Physician Assistant   

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has this to say on Physician Assistants:

"Physician assistants (PAs) provide healthcare services under the supervision of physicians. They should not be confused with medical assistants, who perform routine clinical and clerical tasks. PAs are formally trained to provide diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive healthcare services, as delegated by a physician. Working as members of the healthcare team, they take medical histories, examine and treat patients, order and interpret laboratory tests and x rays, make diagnoses, and prescribe medications. They also treat minor injuries, by suturing, splinting, and casting. PAs record progress notes, instruct and counsel patients, and order or carry out therapy. In 47 States and the District of Columbia, physician assistants may prescribe medications. PAs also may have managerial duties. Some order medical and laboratory supplies and equipment and may supervise technicians and assistants."

"Physician assistants work under the supervision of a physician. However, PAs may be the principal care providers in rural or inner city clinics, where a physician is present for only 1 or 2 days each week. In such cases, the PA confers with the supervising physician and other medical professionals as needed or as required by law. PAs also may make house calls or go to hospitals and nursing care facilities to check on patients, after which they report back to the physician."

"In 2002 there were about 133 accredited or provisionally accredited education programs for physician assistants. Sixty-eight of these programs offered a master’s degree, and the rest offered either a bachelor’s degree or an associate degree. Most PA graduates have at least a bachelor’s degree."

Links

My own Q and A document on PA school - CStory (Word document)

PA online forum - new link- Highly recommended!

American Academy of Physician Assistants - www.aapa.org

Bureau of Labor Statistics Information on PAs  

email me and reqeust a copy of an alum's PA journey! -CS

back to HP main page                                                               updated 9/06