Physician Associates Sit at the Intersection of Care Coordination
People with chronic or life-altering illnesses like cancer or Alzheimer’s may see a range of health care providers as they manage their condition from diagnosis through survivorship. Most are likely familiar with roles played by physicians, nurses, and surgeons, but what about physician associates (PAs)? What role do they play in an integrated care team, and how can they help patients navigate the often-complex health care ecosystem to ensure that all their needs are being met?
We reached out to Jennifer Kolb, DMSc, PA-C, Chief Medical Officer of the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) to learn more about this critical and growing part of the U.S. healthcare workforce and the crucial part they play as a trusted point of contact on the care team, helping patients navigate their care.
Physician Associates Are Trusted Health Care Providers
Real World Health Care: When and where can a patient expect to see a physician associate? What sort of medical services do they provide? How do they work together with other members of a patient’s care team?
Jennifer Kolb
Jennifer Kolb: PAs are board-certified, licensed clinicians who practice medicine in every specialty and setting, from family and internal medicine to surgery, pediatrics, emergency medicine, psychiatry and more. With more than 190,000 PAs nationwide and 590 million patient interactions each year, PAs are a critical – and growing – part of the U.S. healthcare workforce. In fact, we were just ranked by U.S. News & World Report as the second-best healthcare profession for many years in a row.
In general, PAs diagnose illness, develop treatment plans, prescribe medications, assist in surgery, and are often a patient’s primary care provider. Patients can expect to see a PA in hospitals, intensive care units, emergency departments, urgent care centers, outpatient clinics, surgical practices, and primary care offices – often as the provider they see most regularly.
PAs collaborate closely with all members of the healthcare team to ensure patients receive timely, high-quality care. In rural and underserved communities, a PA may be the only healthcare provider available for hundreds of miles, delivering essential care where access would otherwise be limited.
PAs are trusted healthcare providers who often build long term relationships with patients that lead to better health outcomes. A 2023 Harris Poll survey conducted by AAPA found that 66% of adults feel that healthcare providers seem more rushed than in the past, and 30% say they have felt rushed during a healthcare appointment. Despite system pressures, patients value interactions with PAs, with 79% rating the medical care they received from a PA as good or excellent.
PAs Help Improve Access to Care
RWHC: How do PAs help patients navigate their health care? What type of navigation services or expertise might they offer? Why are they uniquely qualified to help patients navigate their care?
JK: PAs help patients navigate an increasingly complex healthcare system by serving as a consistent, trusted point of contact throughout their care. They not only diagnose patients but help them understand diagnoses and thoroughly explain treatment options, explain test results, manage medications, and ensure care plans are carried out across various settings.
PAs are uniquely qualified for this role because of their broad medical training. The PA school curriculum is modeled on the medical school curriculum that involves both didactic and clinical education training. In the didactic phase, students complete courses in basic medical sciences, behavioral sciences, and behavioral ethics. In the clinical phase, students complete more than 2,000 hours of clinical rotations in medical and surgical disciplines, including family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, general surgery, emergency medicine, and psychiatry.
Post graduation, PAs are required to become nationally board certified, complete 100 hours of continuing medical education every two years, and repeat board exams every 10 years. They are educated as generalists with the ability to treat a wide spectrum of patients, anticipate how different aspects of care connect, and help prevent gaps in treatment. Because PAs often spend more time with patients and follow them over multiple visits, they build strong relationships that support communication, trust, and better health outcomes. Patients who have seen a PA recognize the value PAs bring to healthcare – with 90% saying PAs increase access to care and make it easier to get a medical appointment, and 89% saying PAs improve patient outcomes.
PAs Help Patients Navigate Financial Toxicity
RWHC: How do PAs typically get involved with helping patients navigate the financial toxicity that can be associated with a chronic or life-altering illness? What are some of the services and expertise they might offer?
PAs are often the first to recognize and address financial toxicity because they spend meaningful time with patients and can identify early warning signs, such as missed appointments, medication rationing, or stress about medical bills. They help normalize conversations about cost, screen for financial strain, and connect patients with appropriate support when needed.
PAs sit at the intersection of clinical care, patient education, and care coordination, making them true front-line allies for patients facing the financial burden of chronic or life-altering illness. Their close involvement in care allows them to recognize financial strain early and help patients navigate it in practical ways, so cost doesn’t become a barrier to staying engaged in the care they need.
Navigating Alzheimer’s Disease
RWHC: Let’s turn our attention to Alzheimer’s disease. AAPA has a video education series on navigating Alzheimer’s. Why was it important for AAPA to create this education series?
JK: Alzheimer’s disease is increasingly common, complex, and emotionally and financially overwhelming for patients and their families. PAs are on the front lines of recognizing early cognitive changes, diagnosing disease, managing comorbidities, and supporting patients and caregivers throughout a long disease course. As Alzheimer’s is encountered across more care settings, PAs play a critical role in coordinating care and helping families navigate a deeply personal and often overwhelming journey.
The video series equips PAs with practical knowledge and tools to identify, assess, and support patients across the Alzheimer’s disease continuum. Led by PA and subject-matter expert Amy Klinger, the series spans the full spectrum of cognitive impairment and dementia care, from early screening and patient communication to clinical staging, treatment planning, and long-term management. The series emphasizes real-world clinical conversations, including how to talk with patients and families about cognitive changes, connect them to community and support resources, and approach care planning over time. By emphasizing practical guidance and patient navigation, the series supports PAs in serving as trusted guides for both patients and caregivers throughout the Alzheimer’s journey.
RWHC: What are some of the biggest issues Alzheimer’s patients and their caregivers need to navigate? How does your video series help with practical advice that PAs can use with their patients?
JK: Alzheimer’s disease presents challenges far beyond memory loss. Patients often experience progressive cognitive decline, behavioral changes, and loss of independence, while caregivers face significant demands related to safety, communication, emotional health, and overall well-being. Patients and families must also navigate delays in diagnosis, fragmented care across specialties, and difficulty understanding treatment and support options. Many caregivers struggle with burnout, difficult medical decisions, long-term care planning, and simply knowing what resources exist – and how to access them – while managing the emotional and logistical impact of the disease. PAs play a critical role in addressing these challenges: managing symptoms, adjusting medications, supporting behavioral health needs, and educating caregivers about what to expect at each stage of the disease. They serve as accessible, trusted partners for patients and families throughout the journey.
Patient Navigation – Essential to Improving Health Outcomes
RWHC: AAPA has other educational video series for PAs on your site, some of which touch on issues around patient navigation. How do you decide what diseases and conditions to focus on vis-à-vis a focus on patient navigation as an important part of a PAs career development?
JK: AAPA is intentional about selecting conditions where patient navigation is both clinically critical and professionally relevant for PAs. AAPA’s Clinical Resource Library prioritizes conditions where PAs play a critical role across the care continuum and where patient navigation is essential to improving outcomes. We look at disease prevalence, evolving treatment landscapes, and—most importantly—direct feedback from PAs about areas they would like more information to keep up to date.
Patient navigation is a core competency for PAs, regardless of specialty. Whether it’s Alzheimer’s, chronic disease management, or other complex conditions, PAs are uniquely positioned to connect clinical care with patient education, access, and coordination. Our educational strategy reflects that reality—helping PAs strengthen their knowledge, skills, and expertise– while improving care for the patients they serve.
