by Guest Author | Jul 10, 2019
Physician assistants (PAs) are medical practitioners who work under the supervision of a licensed physician. They play a vital role in the health care system by performing physical examinations, making diagnoses, and prescribing treatment to patients. In addition to these general responsibilities, PAs order and interpret laboratory tests, including X-rays, as well as suturing, splinting, and casting injuries. The physician assistant role was created in the 1960s to reducing barriers to accessing health care that had resulted from the increasing shortage or maldistribution of physicians, particularly in rural and underserved communities. Data on the PA workforce is critical to understanding capacity of this workforce in Indiana.
by Guest Author | Jul 10, 2019
Registered nurses (RNs) are the largest professional group within the health workforce. These professionals are a vital part of the health system, including health care delivery and public health. Demand for nurses is on the rise. The Indiana Department of Workforce Development projects a 17.7% increase in the need for RNs by 2022. Understanding the supply, distribution, and characteristics of the RN workforce is crucial to informing health workforce policy discussions. This fact sheet provides a snapshot of data that pertain to relevant policy issues in the RN workforce at the State and Federal levels and is intended to serve as a resource to inform these important policy discussions.
by Guest Author | Jul 10, 2019
More than half of all Americans used prescription drugs between 2011 and 2012. In order to obtain these prescriptions, they likely interacted with a pharmacist. As health care providers, pharmacists’ primary responsibilities include dispensing and managing medications and educating patients on medication use. In addition to traditional responsibilities, pharmacists are also taking on new roles delivering patient services in various health care settings as a part of care teams. As the pharmacy profession evolves, policymakers, educators, and health administrators will need to have a good understanding of the workforce to inform effective policy development and implementation.
