The Role of a Physician Assistant

PA Week, which is celebrated October 6th -12th each year, celebrates the more than 115,500 physician assistants (PAs) and their contributions to healthcare. Many of our patients will interact with a Physician Assistant at some point during their care, and what better time to review the role these important providers play.

What is a PA?

PAs are licensed medical providers who conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, write prescriptions, and perform medical procedures in nearly every practice setting and medical specialty. 

PAs are experts in general medicine. They undergo rigorous medical training. PAs must take a test in general medicine in order to be licensed and certified. They must graduate from an accredited PA program and pass a certification exam. Like physicians and NPs, PAs must complete extensive continuing medical education throughout their careers.

PAs diagnose, treat and prescribe medicine. Thanks to an education modeled on the medical school curriculum, PAs learn to make life saving diagnostic and therapeutic decisions while working autonomously or in collaboration with other members of the healthcare team. PAs are certified as medical generalists with a foundation in primary care. Over the course of their careers, many PAs practice in two or three specialty areas, giving them deep experience and the flexibility to meet the changing needs of their patients, employers and communities.

PAs are trusted healthcare providers. Studies have shown that when PAs practice to the full extent of their abilities and training, hospital readmission rates and lengths of stay decrease and infection rates go down. A Harris Poll found extremely high satisfaction rates among Americans who interact with PAs. The survey found that 93 percent regard PAs as trusted healthcare providers, 92 percent said that having a PA makes it easier to get a medical appointment and 91 percent believe that PAs improve the quality of healthcare.

Here’s how you may interact with a PA when in the care of Orthopedic ONE

During initial or preoperative care, often times PAs roles include a review of the patients medical history, review of imaging, exam, and assessment and plan of care for the patient, including diagnosis, and presenting the information to the surgeon. If surgery is decided for the patient, the PA will provide appropriate preoperative planning.

In the operating room, the PA will assist the surgeon and surgical team.

In the postoperative care setting, the PA will assist with inpatient care responsibilities and see patients back in the clinic setting for post-op visits. 

Source:
https://www.aapa.org