Interprofessional education: an overview of six initiatives across the schools of health at a single university

The benefits of interprofessional education (IPE) amongst health professionals are well documented, however, the implementation of interprofessional initiatives across the USA is inconsistent. This report describes the development and content of a number of IPE initiatives that are in the early stages of development and implementation at the University of California, Davis, USA. The article describes several important factors that were found to be necessary for the initial implementation of these IPE initiatives. Evaluation data from these initiatives, which is providing a range of positive outcomes, are also presented and discussed in relation to the wider IPE literature

Scarcity of Primary Care Positions May Divert Physician Assistants Into Specialty Practice

Background: Physician assistants (PAs) are often suggested as a partial solution to predicted primary care workforce shortages, but a declining proportion of PAs are entering primary care practice. Policy efforts have focused on increasing primary care PA supply, but low labor market demand might be constricting the primary care PA pipeline. Method: In this descriptive, cross-sectional study, we compare primary care and specialty job postings to each other and to occupied PA positions. Job posting data for 2014 are from a leading labor analytics firm. Results: Only 18% of job postings were in primary care, compared with 27% of occupied PA positions. The proportion of postings that were for primary care varied widely by state (9% to 40%) and were highest in the West. Discussion: Job availability is a potential barrier to PAs practicing in primary care, especially in some locations. Other job factors are examined and policy solutions are suggested

Minority Physician Assistant Faculty: A Phenomenological Assessment of Factors Leading to Retention in the Faculty Role

Improving racial and ethnic diversity in the physician assistant (PA) profession is important to providing better care for underserved communities. The recruitment and retention of minority PA faculty is one aspect of helping to attract and retain a more diverse student body. Previous research has indicated that minority status is associated with the increased attrition of PA faculty but has not provided insight into the specific factors involved in the retention or attrition of minority PA faculty. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to describe the experience of minority PA faculty through a critical race theory lens. We used a phenomenological approach using structured interviews of minority PA faculty. Better understanding of the experience of minority PA faculty might lead to improved efforts at recruiting and supporting a more diverse faculty workforce. We conducted 13 interviews of PA faculty representing a variety of underrepresented minorities, geographic regions, types of schools, and stages of their careers. Major themes that emerged across the participants\u27 experiences included opportunities for success in the form of both internal and external support systems and mentorship. As a corollary, barriers to the retention of minority PA faculty including a lack of institutional support, gaps in mentorship, and lack of a solid support network were cited

Interprofessional education: an overview of six initiatives across the schools of health at a single university

The benefits of interprofessional education (IPE) amongst health professionals are well documented, however, the implementation of interprofessional initiatives across the USA is inconsistent. This report describes the development and content of a number of IPE initiatives that are in the early stages of development and implementation at the University of California, Davis, USA. The article describes several important factors that were found to be necessary for the initial implementation of these IPE initiatives. Evaluation data from these initiatives, which is providing a range of positive outcomes, are also presented and discussed in relation to the wider IPE literature