Earn a Degree and Start Physician Assisting Career

Physician assisting is considered one of the nation's fastest growing career fields.
A physician assistant practices medicine under the supervision of a physician or surgeon, where he or she is formally trained to provide diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive health care services, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Assistants must be self-motivated, have a good bedside manner and be able to make decisions in emergencies.

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In rural or inner-city clinics, physician assistants could be the primary health care provider when a physician is present only a day or two a week. They also can make house calls or go to hospitals or nursing care facilities to check on patients. Those who specialize in surgery also provide preoperative and postoperative care and can serve as first or second assistants during major surgery.

Physician assistants can choose to work in primary care specialties – such as general internal medicine, pediatrics and family medicine – or other specialties such as general and thoracic surgery, orthopedics, emergency medicine and geriatrics. Assistants also can find jobs in hospitals, academic medical centers, public clinics and prisons. (Those in surgery have to stand for long periods, and the job can include a large amount of walking. The workweek in a hospital setting also can include weekends, nights or early mornings, and assistants could be on call). Source: Writemyessay.nyc

Potential Dental Assisting Duties

The duties of a physician assistant are determined both by the supervising physician and by state law. They can include:

  • Taking medical histories
  • Examining and treating patients
  • Ordering and interpreting laboratory tests and X-rays
  • Making diagnoses
  • Treating minor injuries by suturing, splinting and casting
  • Recording progress notes
  • Instructing and counselling patients
  • Ordering or carrying out therapy
  • Prescribing some medications (in 48 states and in Washington D.C.)
  • Completing managerial duties, including ordering medical supplies or equipment and supervising technicians and assistants

Physician Assisting Job Opportunities

The number of physician assisting jobs is expected to grow faster than those of many other occupations in coming years because the health care industry is expanding and more and more health care facilities are using physician assistants to contain costs. Job prospects are especially good in rural and inner-city clinics because these settings have a tougher time attracting physicians, and opportunities are best where assistants can prescribe medicine and have more duties.

Physician assistants also are helpful in relieving physicians of routine duties and procedures. Telemedicine – the use of technology to facilitate interactive consultations between physicians and physician assistants – also will increase the use of assistants. In addition, hospitals are using physician assistants to supply some physician resident services as the number of hours physician residents are permitted to work is reduced. Physician assistants will be needed to replace those who permanently leave the field or retire as well.

Physician Assisting Education

Physician assisting programs are usually two years long and are full-time. Most education programs are in schools of allied health, academic health centers, medical schools or four year colleges, while others are in community colleges, the military or hospitals. Education includes biochemistry, pathology, human anatomy, physiology, microbiology, clinical pharmacology, clinical medicine, geriatric and home health care, disease prevention and medical ethics. Students also participate in clinical rotations in private practice and institutional settings, such as family medicine or surgery, according to the American Academy of Physician Assistants.

Although admission requirements differ, many programs require two years of college and some work experience in the health care field. Interested students should take courses in biology, English, chemistry, math, psychology and the social sciences. Many physician assistants have previously worked as registered nurses, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, emergency medical technicians or paramedics.

Physician Assisting Accreditation and Certification

The American Academy of Physician Assistants has accredited more than 100 programs, and many offer the option of a master’s degree, while the rest offer a bachelor’s or associate degree (most applicants already have a bachelor’s degree). Physician assistants must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). This is open only to graduates of accredited programs.

To remain certified, assistants must complete 100 hours of continuing medical education every two years. Every six years, they must pass a recertification exam or complete an alternative program combining learning experiences and a take-home exam. Physician assistants also can pursue additional education in specialties such as surgery, emergency medicine or neonatology. Assistants who are certified by the NCCPA can enter postgraduate educational programs in these areas. They also can advance to added responsibilities but always are under the supervision of a physician.

Sources:

Write My Essay Service NYC  (Retrieved from https://writemyessay.nyc/cheap-essay-writing-service/ 19 October 2019). “Physician Assistants”