So what exactly is a PA?

Put into simple terms, physician assistants are licensed healthcare professionals that are trained by accredited programs at medical universities. PAs can perform a wide variety of therapeutic services for patients. These services may include but are not limited to:

• Diagnose and treat illnesses
• Conduct physical exams
• Write prescriptions
• Order and interpret tests
• 1^st assist in surgery
• Counsel on preventive healthcare

PAs show autonomy! Physician assistants work with physician supervision in the healthcare setting while exercising considerable autonomy. Established agreements between a PA and the supervising physician as well as individual state legislature determine their scope of practice.

PAs are educated in the medical model! Physician assistants are educated at accredited PA programs, usually located at medical universities. The programs typically last 27-30 months, composed of over a year of didactic work followed by a year of clinical rotations. During this time, PA students are taught basic medical sciences, pathophysiology, physical diagnostic techniques, and the application of clinical skills to patients.

PAs practice everywhere! Physician assistants work in virtually all fields of medicine. It is not required for them to undergo recertification or subspecialty training to proceed to different areas. The close working physician-PA relationship along with the PA’s experience allows for appropriate delegation of the duties that they will perform. The majority of physician assistants work in primary care, though no limits are placed on where they can practice medicine.

PAs continue to learn! The education of a physician assistant never ceases. Foremost, a PA will continue to learn while directly working in the field of medicine in which they are employed. Every two years, 100 hours of Continuing Medical Education (CME) must be completed to maintain national certification. Furthermore, every six years, PAs go through recertification through the NCCPA.

PAs work on a team! A physician assistant is a valuable member of the healthcare team. Medicine is never a soloist’s job. A patient is treated and healed by aggregative knowledge and the combined efforts of this team in all medical settings. By working together, this synergistic effect is felt by the working professionals and patients alike.

PAs are growing in number! The physician assistant profession is one of the fastest growing occupations in the country. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 27% increase in the number of PAs by 2016! Therefore, it is expected for more and more patients to be seen by PAs in the near future.

For more information visit the website of the American Academy of Physician Assistants.