DOD and Rand Corporation Studies Do Not Provide an Adequate Basis for Deciding on a Military Physician Assistant Grade Structure (FPCD-82-36)
Abstract
This is in response to your September 25, 1981, request that we review the use of physician assistants within the Department of Defense (DOD). Specifically, you asked that we review and analyze the conflicting findings and recommendations of two independent studies of the physician assistant grade structure: one study was conducted by DOD, 1/ and the other was conducted for the Air Force by the Rand Corporation. 2/ You pointed out that the Army, Navy, and Air Force each have different grade structures for physician assistants, and you were concerned about the need for uniformity among the services. We have concluded that neither DOD's Health Affairs study nor the Rand Corporation study provides an adequate basis for making a decision on whether physician assistants should be commissioned officers, warrant officers, or noncommissioned officers, or what the grade structure should be within any one of these options. Furthermore, neither study adequately addresses the pros and cons of requiring a uniform grade structure among the three services.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 17, 1982
- Accession Number
- AD1166458
Entities
People
- Clifford I. Gould
Organizations
- United States Government Accountability Office