The Role of the Physician Assistant in Hospice and Palliative Medicine

Within hospice and palliative medicine, physician assistants have established important roles. Physician assistants are established clinicians, educators, and leaders despite a number of barriers that have historically existed. Aiding in overcoming these barriers are physician assistants education and collaboration, which have allowed physician assistants to enter and expand into these fields. Physician assistants serve as clinicians, educators, researchers, and leaders for both primary and specialist-level palliative medicine. Physician assistants are well-positioned to help fill some of the current and anticipated gaps created by workforce shortages existing in hospice and palliative medicine.