What is the role of a PA?

What is the role of a PA?

Detailed information regarding the role of Physician Assistants can be found on AAPA’s website. If you want the short answer, a PA is a licensed medical professional who sees patients in a variety of settings and can diagnose, treat/manage diseases/ conditions, prescribe medications, and perform various procedures. We do a lot but that still does not completely answer the question.

The role of a PA is to be part of a medical team that manages patient care. Originally, the profession of Physician Assistants were created to expand healthcare delivery due to a shortage of primary care providers. As you know or should know Primary medicine is the basis (in my opinion) of the general health of a patient. If a patient does not have a good PCP to do annual physicals, encourage health screenings, manage and follow up on pre- existing medical conditions the patient may be subject to poor health choices and outcomes. All simply due to lack of plan of action, support and resources. PAs were supposed to fill in that gap, allowing for more patients to be seen primarily in primary care. They work in partnership with physicians and by definition must have a supervising physician.

However, it became evident that PAs were and are needed in all specialties. Wherever there is a physician it is safe to say that there is also a need for physician assistants. Oh my pet peeve “Physician’s Assistant” big NO, it’s Physician Assistant- although now some states have adopted Physician Associate. The only specialty that I can think of where there are no PAs is podiatry. If you can think of another specialty please leave it in the comments.

In short, PA’s can make the job of a physician better/easier because they share the workload/ patient load. Due to the creation of PAs more patients can be seen. Patient satisfaction has generally improved according to a 2014 Survey by the American Academy of PAs. The general population is now more educated on the role of a PA and therefore more receptive when being seen by one in a clinical setting. There continues to be a high demand for PAs and there is great job satisfaction as well.

Are you thinking of entering the medical field? Do you want to become a PA, MD, DO, RN, NP, etc. Do you have any questions, or comments? Feel free to share your experience.