Evolving Role of Physician Assistants

Physician Assistants were originally created to be legal "agents" of a doctor, meaning the physician

was ultimately responsible for everything the PA did. This traditional model was built

on direct supervision. But healthcare is evolving. The big shift now is toward Optimal

Team Practice, or OTP. This doesn't mean PAs work alone. It means removing

outdated rules that legally tie a PA to one specific doctor. This allows for

more flexible, collaborative teams, improving patient access to care, especially in underserved

areas. It’s a move from a strict hierarchy to a modern team where PAs are essential,

autonomous partners.