Physicians Assistants

Answer 1

A Physician Assistant (PA) is a health care professional who works under the supervision of a Physician. In most settings, a PA is able to evaluate patients, perform a physical exam, order laboratory tests, make appropriate diagnoses, and develop and implement treatment plans, including writing prescriptions. PA’s are also able to work in the Operating Room, where they can assist the surgeon. The success of the PA depends both on the abilities of the PA and the relationship between the PA and the supervising Physician. Because the profession depends on the supervisory role, the relationship must be one in which open communication and trust are of the highest priority.

The typical path utilized to become a PA is through the attendance of a Master’s degree program. Most programs that provide this type of degree require that those applying have a bachelor’s degree from a University. In addition to this, most PA programs require that the applicant have taken and passed a designated number of required courses, such as Anatomy and Physiology and Organic Chemistry. Every PA program is different, with a unique set of standards regarding required prerequisite coursework.

The typical PA program is two to three years long, and implements both a didactic (or in-class) training portion as well as a hands on, or clinical training portion. Furthermore, upon completion of the program, all graduates must be pass the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE) in order to practice. Once a practicing PA, Continuing Medical Education (CME) is required to maintain an active license. CME can be acquired by reading approved articles, or attending lectures or conferences in which applicable medical information is distributed. Furthermore, every six years a PA must take and pass the Physician Assistant National Recertification Exam (PANRE) to remain certified.

For more information about the Physician Assistant profession, as well as information regarding the programs available, feel free to visit the CASPA website at https://portal.caspaonline.org/. It is an excellent resource and provides information about every participating PA program in the country, as well as enables the initiation of the application process.

Answer 2

The Career

Physician Assistants are midlevel providers, working under physicians to deliver health care to patients. They treat patients with minor concerns and illnesses, allowing doctors to spend more time with medically complex cases. In most states, physician assistants are able to diagnose illnesses and write prescriptions, and the amount of physician supervision varies. Some locations allow physician assistants to operate nearly independently, in consultation with a physician who reviews treatment plans and signs off on patient charts, whereas some states require the physician assistant to work directly with a physician every single day.

Every physician specialty has a corresponding physician assistant specialty. The PA might work in surgery, in emergency rooms, in obstetrics and gynecology offices, and in primary care clinics, to name a few.

Education And Training

While there are still a few physician assistant bachelor’s degree programs left in the country, the standard of entry has become the MPAS - Master of Physician Assistant Studies. Any bachelor’s degree is permitted for entrance to physician assistant master’s degree programs, but admission is very competitive. The GRE is often required, and GPA expectations are high. Most MPAS programs also require a certain number of patient care hours in the applicant’s history.

Physician assistant programs generally entail a year of clinical science, from pharmacology to anatomy, followed by a year of clinical rotations. In some schools, the clinical science classes are taught alongside medical students. If the student desires, he or she can go on to a physician assistant residency after graduating. These residencies are shorter than physician residencies, and allow the student to gain valuable experience in their chosen specialty.

Salary

Salary varies by specialty. A physician assistant who staffs an emergency room or works in surgery can expect to make over $100,000 a year. A physician assistant who works primarily with pediatric patients will make far lower - around $70,000 a year.

Job Outlook

The physician assistant profession is expected to grow by 39% through to 2018, and the need for more primary care providers will keep the job market for new physician assistants excellent.

Answer 3

Physicians assistants programs are available in all parts of the country, and the field of medicine is a high paying one. Those interested in becoming a physicians assistant should do research into the various available training programs. Physicians assistants work under the supervision of licensed MDs and are often responsible for the primary care of a large number of patients.