Demonstrated need of Physician Assistant in the U.S. Army Company level

Authors

George Horsley, University of LynchburgFollow

Specialty

Military

Advisor

Dr. Reid

Abstract

The United States Army envisions a narrowing technology and capability gap between itself and the peer/near-peer adversaries of the future. This narrowed gap will allow adversaries to deny the United States free use of the air space. Consequently, rotary-wing medical evacuation will most likely be difficult to impossible. This scenario will increase critical injury holding times outside of tertiary care facilities. The skills necessary to manage these critically injured patients require a solution. This author contends that the answer is not a better-trained medic but a physician assistant at the company level instead of only at the battalion level as is traditional. A simple comparison of the Army combat medic versus the average trained physician assistant quickly demonstrates the clear choice.

Recommended Citation

Horsley G. Demonstrated need of Physician Assistant in the U.S. Army Company level. University of Lynchburg DMSc Doctoral Project Assignment Repository. 2021; 3(1).