The employment, utilization, and earnings of physician extenders

This paper reports some of the findings of an on-going research project on physician extenders (P.E.s). Data were collected between 1971 and 1973 utilizing an air mail survey, sent to Physician Assistants, Medex, and Nurse Practitioners. Included in this report is information on the distribution of physician extenders' tasks among patient care, laboratory work, clerical duties, and teaching responsibilities, as well as a discussion of their salary levels.

A regression model is employed to analyze the affect the time spent by the physician extender in patient care either directly or indirectly supervised by a physician. A separate analysis of the determinants of the earnings of P.E.s is also presented.

The results indicate that the physician extenders spend more of their time in patient care when working closely with three or fewer physicians in general medicine. Also, the amount of time in patient care under the indirect supervision of the physician is higher in general medicine and rural areas. The earnings function indicates that health experience prior to training as a physician extender, employment in a hospital, a public health clinic, or in a rural area has a positive impact on earnings.