The Tanzanian assistant medical officer.

Tanzania, in East Africa, has one of the lowest numbers of physician per population in the world, especially in rural areas where most people live. To address this shortage, assistant medical officers (AMOs) were developed in the 1960s. AMOs are trained in an abbreviated medical school program, work independently, remain the highest-trained practitioners in rural practice, and provide most emergency surgical obstetric care in nonurban settings. Although information on AMOs is limited, no evidence has emerged that their patient care outcomes differ from physicians. These healthcare professionals, similar to physician assistants, have expanded access to care in severely underserved areas of the country. With a growing demand for contemporary healthcare and stretched service delivery, more research is needed on the ameliorating effect AMOs have on Tanzanian healthcare, especially as the country considers converting AMO training programs to medical school programs.

Physician Assistants and the Expanding Global Health-Care Workforce.

The physician assistant and other types of medical providers with accelerated and focused training were developed to serve the specific health-care needs of individual countries. They have an important role in providing care globally in response to physician shortages. Working in over 50 nations, these clinicians increase access to team-based health care. This perspective explores the successes and challenges of these professionals as an international community. Steps are proposed to increase global awareness and acceptance of these professionals including platforms to increase discussion, scholarly activity, and collaboration.