About the Profession
What is a Physician Assistant?
- Physician Assistants (PAs) are health care professionals trained in the medical model at nationally accredited educational programs.
- PAs are not independent clinicians.
- PAs are highly skilled professionals licensed to practice medicine in collaboration with a supervising physician.
- PAs have the ability for autonomous decision making and patient management which contributes to the physician/PA team, and ensures the highest quality standard of patient care.
- PAs deliver a broad range of medical and surgical services to diverse rural and urban populations.
- Once PAs obtain national certification, they can practice in any discipline of medicine and can change disciplines without additional formal training.
- PAs must re-certify every ten years and obtain 100 hours of CME every two years to maintain certification.
What are abilities of a Physician Assistant?
- Elicit medical histories
- Perform physical exams
- Order & interpret labs and diagnostic tests
- Manage acute illness & chronic diseases
- Prescribe medication
- Write patient orders
- Perform Patient Education & Counseling
- Make referrals
- Perform specific procedures
- Assist in surgery
- Make rounds in hospitals and nursing homes
- Do clinical research
What types of Procedures are PAs trained to perform?
PAs are trained to perform many types of procedures, here are some examples:
- Venipuncture
- Splinting/ Casting
- IV Access
- Urinalysis & Microscopy
- Arterial Puncture
- Wet Prep Analysis
- Surgical Drain Placement & Removal
- Urinary Catheter Placement
- Shave, Punch and Excisional Biopsy
- Suturing & Stapling
- Incision & Drainage
- Bursal & Joint Injections
- Lumbar Puncture
- Central Line Placement
- Nasogastric Tube Placement
- Chest Tube Insertion
- Thoracentesis
- Intradermal, Subcutaneous, Intramuscular injections
In what areas of medicine and surgery can PAs practice?
- Family Practice
- General Surgery
- Internal Medicine
- CT Surgery & Vascular
- Pediatric Medicine
- Transplant Services
- Women’s Health
- Plastic Surgery
- Emergency Medicine
- Neurosurgery
- Orthopedic Medicine
- Critical Care
- Behavioral Medicine
- Pathology
- Cardiology
- Radiology
- Dermatology
- Pain Management
- Endocrinology
- Sleep Medicine
- Gastroenterology
- Interventional Radiology
- Neurology
- Hyperbaric Medicine
- Pulmonology
- Academic Medicine
- Hematology/ Oncology
- Occupational Medicine
- Rheumatology
- Ophthalmology
- Infectious Disease
- Nephrology
- ENT
- Urology
- Urgent Care
What career opportunities are available for PAs?
- Physician Solo or Group Office
- Industrial Work Sites
- Hospital
- Armed Forces
- Community Health Center
- Dept of Veteran Affairs
- Surgical Center
- Indian Health Service
- Nursing Home
- Public Health
- Long Term Care Facility
- Federal Government
- Home Health Agency
- Medical Staffing Agency
- Hospice
- International Medicine
- Correctional Facility
- Health Care Management
- Clinical Research
- Medical Education
- Medical Sales
