When Rural Care Is at Risk: A PA’s Call to Protect Access
- ADPA
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
Jessica Amburgey, DMS, MSPAS, PA-C, EM-CAQ
I am a board-certified Physician Assistant and one of the early adopters of the CAQ- EM. I am also a doctorally trained PA. I’ve been practicing emergency medicine in Kentucky for over a decade and currently serve as the EM Lead and Chief Advanced Practice Provider (APP) for a multi-hospital health system. Much of my career has been spent supporting rural and critical access hospitals—facilities that are often the sole source of emergency care for entire communities.
Rural healthcare is increasingly at risk. Workforce shortages, limited specialty access, long transfer distances, and declining resources place constant strain on small hospitals. In many communities, the loss of even a single emergency department would mean delayed care, worse outcomes, and preventable loss of life. These risks are not theoretical—they are already unfolding across rural America.
In rural emergency departments, Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Physician Assistants/ Associates (PAs) often serve as the primary clinicians on-site, supported by offsite physicians and evidence-based protocols. These select few NPs and PAs have dedicated their careers to the art of emergency medicine, obtaining advanced certifications, mastering lifesaving emergency procedures and clinical competency. This care model is not a compromise—it is a necessity. When policies fail to reflect the realities of rural practice, hospitals are forced to reduce services or close entirely, leaving patients with no local option for emergency or trauma care.
My advocacy work stems from what I see at the bedside: patients delaying care because of distance, families relying on small hospitals during life-threatening emergencies, and clinicians working tirelessly to fill gaps in an already stretched system. I regularly engage with policymakers and healthcare leaders to advocate for solutions that preserve access while maintaining safety, emphasizing that standardization must be flexible enough to work in rural environments.
In addition to my clinical and leadership roles, I am deeply committed to mentorship and professional development for PAs and NPs practicing in underserved areas. Building a sustainable rural workforce requires recognizing advanced practice providers not only as clinicians, but as leaders, professionals, educators, and advocates.
Within the past year, I have been honored with several recognitions that reflect this commitment, including Lincoln Memorial University’s Top 40 Under 40, the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences Healthcare Leader of the Year (2025), the Kentucky Academy of Physician Assistants PA of the Year (2025), and designation as a Kentucky Colonel by Governor Andy Beshear. I view these honors not as personal achievements, but as validation of the critical role PAs play in protecting access to care for rural communities.
I am proud to be a Physician Assistant and to advocate for a profession that stands at the front lines of rural healthcare. Ensuring access to timely, high-quality care—regardless of zip code—remains both my professional mission and personal responsibility.
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