Experienced and skilled physician assistants (PAs) are in demand across the country—and according to some PAs, healthcare facilities across the United States are struggling to keep up with hiring. In fact, a recent survey of PAs by the National Commission on Certification of PAs (NCCPA) shed light on the growing staffing issues of these important providers in the country. Many of these crucial providers say their place of employment can’t fill PA positions despite actively recruiting for the roles. In this blog, we’re taking a look at each region of the U.S. to dive into the stress on PA hiring, as well as how facilities can leverage locum tenens PAs to maintain continuity of patient care.
Methodology
Before we get into the details of what PA position fill rates look like in each region of the U.S., it’s important to first get a comprehensive understanding of how the data was collected.
The NCCPA garnered results from 140,815 board-certified PAs out of a total 168,318 in the country for at least a portion of the survey, which is a response rate of around 84%. The following data represents the percentage of certified PAs surveyed who said their primary place of employment has positions that remain unfilled after six months, out of all certified PAs who said their employer is currently recruiting/hiring PAs.
Northeast
According to PAs surveyed, some healthcare facilities across the Northeast U.S. are having trouble filling open PA positions that have stayed open for six months. Maine has the highest rate of unfilled positions out of the PAs surveyed, while New Jersey is struggling the least.
Southeast
In the Southeast, Virginia appears to be struggling the most with hiring PAs. In fact, 25% of PAs who said their employer currently had open PA positions reported that these jobs have not been filled after six months. The data suggests Kentucky is struggling the least, with only 16.2% of PAs who said their facility is hiring PAs have had open PA positions after six months.
Midwest
As we move into the Midwest, it becomes clear that PA hiring struggles aren’t unique to the East Coast. The survey suggests the problem is most prevalent in Wisconsin, with 23.3% of PAs who reported their employer currently had open PA positions said that these jobs have not been filled after six months.
Southwest
While it’s a smaller region than the ones already discussed, many PAs in the Southwest say their facilities have had open PA jobs after six months. The problem appears to be the most dire in Arizona, while the Lone Star State of Texas has the fewest PAs reporting open jobs have gone unfilled after six months.
West
Finally, PAs working on the West Coast (along with those in Hawaii and Alaska) are also reporting that their primary places of employment are struggling with filling open PA positions after six months.
Leverage Locum Tenens PAs to Fill Open Positions
If you relate to this data, we can help. Every month, Barton’s dedicated team connects hundreds of locum tenens PAs with facilities and practices like yours across the nation.
By leveraging our vast network of locum tenens PAs, your facility can:
- Save Money
- When you bring on a locum tenens provider, you won’t have to worry about additional expenses that come with hiring a permanent provider such as benefits, signing bonuses, and health insurance.
- Ensure Coverage Despite Planned (or Unplanned) Absences
- Barton’s locum tenens providers can fill your facility’s needs for any position, and can be available within 24 hours for openings ranging from a few days to six months or longer.
- Expand Offerings and Services
- Locum tenens providers open the door for facilities to provide expanded days/hours, new service lines, or care to increased patient volumes.
Reach out to us today to get connected with an experienced account executive who will help your facility meet its staffing goals!
