The pathologists' assistant. Distribution, use, and employer perceptions.

Pathologists' assistants have been formally trained since 1969 to assist in technical anatomic pathology procedures. The authors surveyed 165 assistants who are members of their national organization to determine the actual demographic distribution and patterns of use. One hundred respondents were slightly more concentrated in the eastern United States, usually in pathology groups larger than the national average. Assistants generally performed a large percentage of the autopsy and surgical specimen dissections and various ancillary functions: teaching, supervision, administration, or research. Sixty-six of 82 employer pathologists responded to a companion survey. They were satisfied with the assistant's work. Most hired assistants to free themselves from technical functions or to replace residents, believed that assistants' numbers will remain small, and favored a national certification program. Thus, pathologists' assistants are effectively filling a need for ancillary anatomic pathology personnel in selective situations, primarily in larger pathology practices.