Physicians Assistant
'This hurts': Third annual primary care scorecard details field's systemic underinvestment
Can shifting certain procedures to physician assistants help overcome provider shortages?
Within our current health system, optometry has long served as a physician extender for ophthalmology by providing primary eye care. That said, well beyond the optometrist’s scope of practice is a need for surgeon extenders within certain procedure-based practices such as oculofacial plastics and orbital surgery. Although such discussions are contentious, the realities of modern health care make them necessary. I view the incorporation of surgeon extenders such as advanced practice providers (APPs) including physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners as a means of increasing access while maintaining quality.