Employment is Forecasted to Soar for the NP and PA Workforce

National Rural Health Resource Center

June 3, 2013

Minnesota is suffering from a primary health care workforce shortage and the road to improved population health begins with increased access to care. A large portion of the primary care workforce is nearing retirement while fewer medical students are choosing primary care as their specialty. These shortages are particularly significant in the rural parts of Minnesota. Clearly there are benefits of Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Physician Assistants (PAs) to health care organizations, and the Obama administration has championed NPs and PAs as an important part of the answer to our nations' health care problems.

Growth in the number of PAs has grown substantially in the past several years. In March 2012, Minnesota had over 1,700 licensed PAs, over three times the number from 10 years ago. According to Health Guide USA, PA opportunities are expected to increase 30% from 2010-2020 due to increased need. This should be particularly true for PAs working in rural and medically underserved areas, as well as those working in primary care. With more physicians entering non-primary care areas of medicine, there will be a growing need for primary health care providers, including PAs. Additionally, general population growth and an increase in the number of insured citizens, due to health care reform, will further spur opportunities for PAs as more people seek health care. Read the full article here.