The Productivity Potential of the Physician Assistant Author(s): Richard Zeckhauser and Michael Eliastam Source: The Journal of Human Resources, Vol. 9, No. 1 (Winter, 1974), pp. 95-116 Published by: University of Wisconsin Press Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/145047 Accessed: 27-05-2020 21:46 UTC JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact
[email protected]. Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions of Use, available at https://about.jstor.org/terms University of Wisconsin Press is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to The Journal of Human Resources This content downloaded from 206.253.207.235 on Wed, 27 May 2020 21:46:22 UTC All use subject to https://about.jstor.org/terms THE PRODUCTIVITY POTENTIAL OF THE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT* RICHARD ZECKHAUSER MICHAEL ELIASTAM, M.D. ABSTRACT The physician assistant is a title applied to individuals who assume at least a portion of physicians' traditional duties. This paper develops a produc- tion function methodology to estimate the potential contribution of physician assistants in the delivery of medical care. This methodology is applied to a paradigm delivery mode, an urban health center. Following upon a discussion of the possibilities for delegation and the efficient assignment of medical tasks to physician assistants, a numerical production function is estimated for physicians and physician assistants working together.