What Is Physician Assisting?

A physician's assistant (PA) is an individual who is certified to practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician.

They should not be confused with medical assistants (MAs) who provide clerical and clinical assistance in medical offices and clinics. MAs work under direct supervision of a licensed doctor and nurses.

Function

• The duties and responsibilities of a PA include:
  Interpreting lab test and x-rays
  Taking patient histories and performing examinations
  Treatment and diagnosis
  Prescribing medications, including controlled medications
  Suturing and casting
  Ordering therapy
  Assisting in surgery
  Patient teaching
  In order to become certified in physician assisting, you must attend and graduate from a course in physician assisting and pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE).
  PAs are allowed to practice medicine in all states, including Guam, the Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. You'll also find them in England and the Netherlands.

History

• The first physician assistant class was organized by Dr. Eugene Stead of Duke University Medical Center in 1965 due to a shortage of primary care physicians. The class consisted of students who had obtained a significant amount of experience and training during the Vietnam War. They were U.S. Navy corpsmen and Army medics.

Significance

• Although PAs carry out their duties under the supervision of a licensed physician, they do not have to be physically present. Physician assistants stay in contact with the supervising doctor via phone, computer, patient documentation and consultation. Many PAs work remotely in rural areas and in underserved communities.

Features

• Education and training involve completing a physician assistant program, usually given as part of a masters degree program. However, there are also associate and bachelor degree programs. Although quite rare, there are also doctorate programs available.

  PA school is very similar to attending medical school, except that it is shorter and covers a broad spectrum: pathophysiology, hemotology, diagnosis, and involves a clinical rotation schedule. The student will be rotating through such areas as pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, surgery, family medicine, emergency and geriatrics.

Considerations

• There is some preparation for entering into a PA program, as many prefer previous experience in the medical field. Also, there are prerequisite courses such as anatomy, physiology, statistics and biology. Prospective students must either have taken the General Record Examination( if entering a graduate program) or the Medical College Admissions Test.

  According to the U.S. Department of Labor, employment for PAs is "expected to grow much faster than average..." In 2006 median annual earnings were just over $74,000.

Time Frame

• It takes approximately two to three years to complete a PA program. However, this does not include preparatory coursework.