Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Janette Dill, Jennifer Craft Morgan, Emmeline Chuang
Summary: This study examines the use of career ladders for medical assistants (MAs) in primary care practices as a mechanism for increasing wages and career opportunity for MAs. The research found that career ladders can provide MAs with more opportunities for career advancement and result in yearly income increases ranging from $3000 to $10,000 after participating in the career ladder programs.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Erin P. Fraher, Allison Cummings, Dana Neutze
Summary: The study found that there is no role confusion between medical assistants (MAs) and family physicians, and physicians are not resistant to delegating tasks to properly trained MAs. While there are some gaps, particularly in areas like patient education, coaching, and documentation, the potential for MA role transformation appears to be narrowing in implementation.
MEDICAL CARE RESEARCH AND REVIEW
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Bethany M. Kwan, Mika K. Hamer, Austin Bailey, Kathy Cebuhar, Colleen Conry, Peter C. Smith
Summary: This paper reports on the implementation strategies and qualitative evaluation of a primary care redesign (PCR) model. The strategies included rapid improvement events, changing clinic space configurations, developing electronic health record templates and performance dashboards. Clear communication, feedback mechanisms, and supportive physical environments and electronic health record systems facilitated the implementation process.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Janette Dill, Jennifer Craft Morgan, Emmeline Chuang, Chivon Mingo
Summary: This study explores critical challenges in the planning, implementation, and early sustainment of medical assistant (MA) role redesign efforts in primary care, drawing on rich case study data from four healthcare systems in the United States. Challenges during active implementation included provider training and preventing MA burnout, and strategies for addressing these challenges are discussed in the article.
MEDICAL CARE RESEARCH AND REVIEW
(2021)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Gareth H. H. Rees
Summary: This study explores the dynamics of health professions in New Zealand's Primary Care sector and provides insights for an international audience. By understanding the power dynamics and positions of health professions on workforce policies, it assists in workforce governance and health system reform plans.
BMC HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Health Policy & Services
Alden Yuanhong Lai, Bram P. Fleuren, Jennifer Larkin, Lynda Gruenewald-Schmitz, Christina T. Yuan
Summary: This study investigated the perspective and values of medical assistants (MAs) to promote sustainable employability. The findings revealed that MAs value clinical competence, being a multiskilled resource, building meaningful relationships, and recognition for their contributions. However, they encountered limitations due to scope-of-practice regulations, task similarity with nurses, and a lack of performance recognition. Efforts to effectively employ and retain MAs should include proactive communication, work redesign, and greater recognition and respect.
HEALTH CARE MANAGEMENT REVIEW
(2022)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
David Auerbach, Douglas E. Levy, Peter Maramaldi, Robert S. Dittus, Joanne Spetz, Peter Buerhaus, Karen Donelan
Summary: Different staffing configurations in primary and geriatric care practices are associated with the performance of essential services. Practices with a large concentration of MDs have the highest estimated labor costs, while a high NP/PA configuration is linked to an increased probability of providing primary care services.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ivan Wilson Hossni Dias, Alicia Matijasevich, Giuliano Russo, Mario Cesar Scheffer, Adrian Loerbroks
Summary: This study investigates the factors associated with the short tenure of primary care physicians. It finds that individual characteristics (such as age and professional experience) and organizational characteristics (such as employers and service features) are related to physician tenure. Differences between primary health care units account for 10.83% of the observed variance in tenure, while employing organizations contribute only 2.30%. The study highlights the importance of investing in primary health care infrastructure and making changes to work conditions, policies, training, and human resource policies to address this issue.
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nathan Davies, Vladimir Kolodin, Abi Woodward, Cini Bhanu, Yogini Jani, Jill Manthorpe, Mine Orlu, Kritika Samsi, Alice Burnand, Victoria Vickerstaff, Emily West, Jane Wilcock, Greta Rait
Summary: This article presents a scoping review on the existing research and policy/guidance regarding the role of clinical pharmacists in primary care supporting older adults. The review will follow the methodology of the Joanne Briggs Institute and focus on the role and care models provided by clinical pharmacists in primary care.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Rachel Schwartz, Susan M. Frayne, Sarah Friedman, Yasmin Romodan, Eric Berg, Sally G. Haskell, Jonathan G. Shaw
Summary: Attrition of healthcare providers can have significant costs, and in the VA healthcare system, attrition of women's health primary care providers poses a threat to the specially trained workforce. Working exclusively in a comprehensive women's health center was found to significantly lower the risk of WH-PCP attrition, suggesting the importance of clinic environment in provider retention.
JOURNAL OF GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Primary Health Care
Joseph Hutchinson, Yiu-Shing Lau, Matt Sutton, Kath Checkland
Summary: This study examines the impact of the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) on inequality in the distribution of the primary care workforce in England. The results show that there were changes in the distribution of administrative staff and doctors-in-training, but the changes in other staff roles were not statistically significant. Overall, the introduction of Primary Care Networks (PCNs) did not substantially change the longstanding inequalities in the geographical distribution of the primary care workforce.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF GENERAL PRACTICE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ulrich Kaiser, Ursula Vehling-Kaiser, Jorg Schmidt, Ana Hoffmann, Florian Kaiser
Summary: This interview-based study examines the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on the work routine of outpatient hematology/oncology nurses and medical assistants. The results show that the pandemic has had a moderate impact on the outpatient care of cancer patients. The level of stress experienced by medical staff is moderate, with workplace safety measures helping to reduce stress.
Review
Health Policy & Services
Vincent A. Kagonya, Onesmus O. Onyango, Michuki Maina, David Gathara, Mike English, Abdulazeez Imam
Summary: There is a global shortage of healthcare workers, and the use of low-skilled care assistants has been suggested as a cost-saving strategy to reduce the risks of rationed or delayed care. However, the characterization, role assignment, regulation, and management of care assistants remain unclear or inconsistent. This study aimed to gather evidence on how care assistants are labeled, utilized, regulated, and managed in formal hospital settings, as well as their impact on patient care.
HUMAN RESOURCES FOR HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Wei-Ho Chen, Pei-Chen Lee, Shu-Chiung Chiang, Yuh-Lih Chang, Tzeng-Ji Chen, Li-Fang Chou, Shinn-Jang Hwang
Summary: This study provides an overview of pharmacists working at primary care clinics in Taiwan, highlighting the differences in pharmacist numbers among clinics of different specialties and urbanization levels. Despite a strict separation policy, most clinics in Taiwan hire pharmacists to maintain dominance in drug dispensing and financial benefits. Further analysis is needed to understand the impact on pharmacies and the quality of pharmaceutical care.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Orlanda Q. M. Goh, Xiaohui Xin, Wan Tin Lim, Michelle W. J. Tan, Juliana Y. L. Kan, Hartini Bte Osman, Wanyi Kee, Tse Yean Teo, Wee Boon Tan, Mei Ling Kang, Nicholas Graves
Summary: During COVID-19, Singapore implemented new models of care to treat patients with acute, low-severity medical conditions, which helped lower bed occupancy rates and alleviate pressure on acute hospitals.