Although there has been an uptick in the number of physician assistants in the U.S., hospitals and surgery centers in Illinois are struggling to hire healthcare professionals due to slow licensing approval processing, according to NBC Chicago.
In Illinois, the standard physician assistant's application takes eight to 10 weeks, according to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. This timeline extends months compared to Wisconsin's eight-day license process.
At the American Center for Spine and Neurosurgery in Libertyville, Ill., administrator Betsy Matthews said the extended processing time affects patient care. The spine center also faces hardships when looking to attract new hires.
"Without that license they can't practice and even without the license they can't obtain any privileges at the hospitals," Ms. Matthews told NBC Chicago.
One physician assistant reportedly waited more than three months before receiving her physician assistant license, controlled substance license and other required documents to practice.
"The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation is committed to processing all applications thoroughly and promptly to ensure all practitioners are qualified and safe to practice," Eric Eizinger, IDFPR director of policy and community relations, told NBC Chicago.
The IDFPR is currently understaffed, causing a backlog of applications, according to the Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants. The department staffs depending on processing demands.