Physician assistant
Physician assistant
A Physician assistant (PA) (pronounced /ˌfɪzɪˈʃæn əˈsɪstənt/) is a medical professional who practices medicine under the supervision of a physician or surgeon. They are formally trained to provide diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive healthcare services, as delegated by a physician.
Etymology
The term "Physician assistant" has its roots in the mid-20th century United States. The profession was initially developed to address the shortage and uneven distribution of primary care physicians. The "assistant" part of the name is derived from the role these professionals play in supporting physicians in providing medical care.
Roles and Responsibilities
Physician assistants can conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and write prescriptions. Within the physician-PA relationship, physician assistants exercise autonomy in medical decision making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services.
Related Terms
Education and Certification
Physician assistant education is based on medical education although unlike medical school which lasts four years plus a specialty-specific residency, training is usually 2 to 3 years of full-time graduate study like most master's degrees. PAs are trained with the Medical model and complete these training in less time than a traditional medical degree. The educational program includes classroom and laboratory instruction in medical and behavioral sciences, such as anatomy, microbiology, immunology, physiology, pharmacology, and clinical medicine, followed by clinical rotations in internal medicine, family medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, emergency medicine, and geriatric medicine, as well as elective rotations.
After graduation, they must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and obtain a state license in order to practice. They must also complete continuing education and pass a recertification exam every 10 years.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Physician assistant
- Wikipedia's article - Physician assistant
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