Health Professions
What is a Physician Assistant?
A physician assistant (PA) is a healthcare professional working under the oversight of a medical doctor. The PA’s role varies based on specialty, location, the supervising physician, and state laws. Duties of PAs may include:
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What is the relationship between a physician and a physician assistant?
A physician assistant works under the guidance of a doctor. The physician and PA will agree, based on the state laws, on the responsibilities of the PA and when to seek consultation from the supervising physician. A physician assistant may examine, diagnose, and treat patients before the consultation with the doctor. The two health professionals will constantly keep each other updated on patient statuses and must maintain efficient communication.
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What areas can PAs work in?
PAs can be found in different work environments such as hospitals, physician offices, nursing homes, schools, etc.
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How much do they make on average?
The median annual salary for physician assistants is about $95,820. The salaries range from about $64,000 to $134,000.
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What does the future hold for PAs?
The job growth is expected to be about 30 percent in the next decade.The growing elderly population will need more healthcare services in the near future increasing the need for healthcare providers.The cost-effective advantage of hiring PAs instead of doctors will also increase the need for physician assistants as they can provide much of the same care as medical doctors. Insurance coverage is expected to, and has, increased since the Affordable Care Act, giving more people access to healthcare services, thus increasing the need for PAs.
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What specialties/patient populations can PAs work with?
Physician assistants can work with patients throughout the entirety of the human lifespan. They work alongside physicians and can therefore identify with the specialty of their supervising physician. Some specialties include:
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