One in 10 physician assistants has experienced a change in primary practice setting — shifting to an outpatient surgery center or intensive care unit, for example — during the pandemic, according to the American Academy of Physician Assistants' "COVID-19 PA Pulse Survey."
AAPA surveyed a random sample of PAs from April 25 to May 6, collecting 743 responses.
Employment changes among PAs in the past 10 weeks:
1. Changed primary setting: 9.9 percent
2. Returned to clinical work from retirement or from another role: 4.3 percent
3. Assumed a formal leadership position: 3.4 percent
4. Been furloughed: 22.1 percent
5. Been terminated: 3.7 percent
6. Changed primary specialty: 5.9 percent
7. Changed primary employer: 5.5 percent
8. Changed supervising or collaborating physician: 9.6 percent
9. Began volunteering in a medical capacity: 6.9 percent
10. No employment changes indicated: 58 percent