Shedding Light on Physician Assistants: Who They Are and What They Do
Ever wondered about the role of a Physician Assistant (PA) in healthcare? This article aims to clearly define what a PA is and understand their role in healthcare.
Let's start by understanding the terminologies often associated with a PA:
- Advanced Practice Provider: This term often encompasses PAs, Nurse Practitioners (NPs) or Midwives, who are also known as Mid-level Providers.
- Physician’s Assistant: Synonymous with Physician Assistant, most programs have removed the apostrophe "s" after Physician for clarity.
- Physician Associate: This is also interchangeable with Physician Assistant. There has been some push among PAs to have their title changed to “associate” to avoid confusion.
PA Training
To become a PA, a 4-year bachelor's degree is required (often in the sciences), followed by a Master’s program at an accredited college or university. These programs last anywhere from 2.5-3 years, depending on the program, with half of the training focused on academics and the other half on training at clinics and hospitals. Following graduation from an accredited PA program, the PA can enter the healthcare field workforce after passing a board certification exam.
Physician Assistant vs Physician
One frequently asked question is whether a Physician Assistant (PA) is the same as a Physician. While both play vital roles in healthcare, they differ in terms of their training and career paths. The main difference between the training of a Physician and a PA is length of school and training. A Physician completes a 4-year bachelor’s degree, attends a 4-year medical school, and then completes a 3-5 year residency in a selected specialty (i.e. family medicine, cardiology, general surgery, etc). A Physician then pursues a career in their specific specialty. In contrast, PA education is much shorter, and a PA does not specialize in one specific area. PAs have a more flexible role in the healthcare industry and their responsibilities largely depend on their work setting. Because they are able to work in any specialty, PAs can change settings throughout their career. PAs often enter healthcare less experienced than a Physician; however, they often work alongside a Physician or group of Physicians and learn similar skills on the job over time. PAs also earn significantly less income and legally require the oversight of a licensed Physician.
PAs Role in Healthcare
PAs can work in primary care, a hospital setting, or in a specialty clinic. The role and responsibilities of a PA can vary greatly, depending on the setting. In primary care, a PA often functions autonomously with his or her own independent set of patients, similar to a primary care physician. We are able to do this because we can order all of the same tests and prescribe the same medications as a physician. In an emergency room or specialty clinic, you may see a PA evaluating patients autonomously or in conjunction with a supervising physician. In both settings, a supervising physician is available to a PA for consultation if needed.
Procedures Performed by PAs
Primary care PAs are able to perform nearly all of the same procedures and tasks as a physician as long as the PA has had adequate training to perform each procedure independently. This includes suturing lacerations, ordering and interpreting lab tests and x-rays, joint injections, skin biopsies, IUD placements, and applying casts or splints. PAs cannot, however, become primary surgeons but frequently serve as first-assistants to a surgeon in the operating room.
Why Choose to See a PA?
Is it beneficial to see a Physician Assistant? Absolutely! Given their well-rounded training and skillset, PAs are competent in managing a variety of health conditions. They often have more available appointments compares to Physicians. PAs also tend to have a bit more time to spend with each patient, allowing more time for teaching and answering questions. PAs had been vital to bridge the gap in primary care, as there is a significant shortage of primary care physicians throughout the U.S. And remember, when a patient’s symptoms or overall health condition becomes too complex, PAs are always able to quickly consult with a Physician regarding appropriate next steps of care.
Physician Assistants are critical members of the healthcare team, capable of providing high-quality care alongside Physicians. At Northwest Family Clinics, our teams of physicians and PAs work together every day to offer high quality, comprehensive healthcare. Want to learn more about our services and our team? Click here! Get to know all of our PA’s here.