Physician Assistants, also called PA’s, practice medicine under the guidance and supervision of a physician or surgeon. They are trained to examine patients, diagnose injuries and illnesses, and provide adequate treatment. Physician Assistants typically do a wide variety of duties throughout the day. While working under the supervision of a physician or surgeon they do physical exams and check the patients’ health while reviewing their medical records. They order and interpret diagnostic test, such as X-rays or blood test and make preliminary diagnosis concerning a patient’s injury or illness.
They also provide treatment, such as setting broken bones and giving immunizations while counseling family members on the condition of their loved ones. When needed they also prescribe medicine, record patient’s progress and complete needed insurance forms. A physician assistant specific duties and the extent of the supervision vary from state to state. Physician assistants work in all area of medicine, including primary care and family medicine, emergency medicine to psychiatric medicine. The work of the physician assistant depends in large part of their specialty and what their supervising physician need them to do.
Some examples of what physician assistants may do if working in surgery they may close incisions and provide care before and after the operation. In rural areas they may be the primary care giver while the doctor is only present once a week. In these locations, physician assistants confer with the physician as needed and as required by law. Some physician assistants make house calls or visit nursing homes to treat patients, reporting back to the physician afterward. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, U. S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition, Physician Assistants, on the Internet at http://www. bls. gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants. htm) (visited May 27, 2013).
II. Education and Certification Prospective physician assistants must obtain formal training through an educational program approved by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). These programs often require the applicant to have a bachelor’s degree and have some formal training in the healthcare profession to gain admission. Most physician assistants serve as EM T’s, nurses or paramedics before pursuing admission to physician assistant programs.
Physician-assistants programs generally take 26 months of full time study to complete with the cost of upwards of $52,000. During the first year, students focus on classroom instruction in medical science and clinical preparation. Classes may include pathology, pediatrics, diagnosis, surgical techniques, emergency medicine and pharmacology. Afterward, the curriculum shifts to focus mostly on clinical rotations such as general surgery, gynecology and psychiatry. During these rotation, students gain firsthand experience in patient care under the supervision of a licensed physician.
Physician assistants are required to be licensed by the state in which they practice. Along with completion of an accredited training program, the licensing process entails passage of the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE). Students who pass the PANCE may use the Physician Assistant-Certified designation. Physician Assistants must maintain the PA-C designation by earning 100 continuing hours every 2 years. They are also required to pass the Physician Assistant National Re certifying exam every 6 years. Physician Assistants may choose to specialize in a particular field of medicine.
Becoming a specialist entails completion of an additional postgraduate training program and certification from the NCCPA. (Glossary of Career Education Programs / Medical and Health Professions / Physician Assistant: Educational http://education-portal. com/articles/Physician_Assistant_Educational_Requirements. html) There are only a few institution that offer an accredited PA program in the State of Florida. They are Nova University, Miami Dade, Keiser University, Barry University, and FIU. (http://www. arc-pa. org/acc_programs/ ) III. Employment Employment of physician assistants is expected to increase 30 percent from 2010 to 2012,much faster than the average for all occupations.
As more physicians enter specialty areas of medicine, there will be a greater need for primary healthcare providers, such as physician assistants. In addition, employment growth is expected because of the large baby boomer generation is getting older. As they age, baby boomers will be increasingly susceptible to sickness and conditions such as heart attack and strokes. Physician assistants are expected to have an increasing role in keeping these people healthy and caring for them when they get ill. Good job prospects are expected.
This should be particularly true for physician assistants working in rural areas and medically underserved communities. Statistics show there were 83,600 Physician Assistant jobs in the US in 2010 and projected to grow 30% to 108,300 which is approximately 24,700 jobs. (Bureau of Labor Statistics, U. S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition, Physician Assistants, on the Internet at http://www. bls. gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants. htm (visited May 27, 2013). The median expected salary for a typical Physician Assistant- Surgical in the US is $96,520.