Career of Interest Research: Physician’s Assistant

NICHOLAS PETRUSCLEMSON UNIVERSITY SENIOR

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE: HEALTH SCIENCESCONCENTRATION: PREPROFESSIONAL

HEALTH STUDIES

What is a Physician Assistant?• A PA is a nationally certified and state-licensed medical professional.

• PAs practice medicine on healthcare teams with physicians and other providers.

• In some areas, especially rural and medically underserved communities, physician assistants may be the primary care providers at clinics where a physician is present only 1 or 2 days per week.

• Physician assistants work in all areas of medicine, including primary care and family medicine, emergency medicine, surgery, and psychiatry. The work of physician assistants depends in large part on their specialty or the type of medical practice where they work.

• Practice and prescribe medication in all 50 states, the majority of the U.S. territories and the uniformed services.

What is a Physician Assistant?

To view a video about the PA profession, please click on the video on the next slide

Physician Assistant Duties• Examine patients

• Order and interpret diagnostic tests, such as x rays or blood tests

• Diagnose a patient’s injury or illness

• Give treatment, such as setting broken bones and immunizing patients

• Prescribe medicine

• Conduct or participate in outreach programs; talking to groups about managing diseases and promoting wellness

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Physician Assistants, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm (visited May 17, 2016)

Physician’s Assistant Statistics

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Physician Assistants, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm (visited May 17, 2016)

Education● Bachelor’s degree (any typically)

● Many applicants already have experience as registered nurses or as EMTs and paramedics before they apply to a physician assistant program.

● Master’s degree ● About 200 education programs were accredited by the

Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) in 2014.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Physician Assistants, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm (visited May 17, 2016)

Licensure ● License (PA-C)

● Must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE)

● A physician assistant who passes the exam may use the credential “Physician Assistant-Certified (PA-C).”

● To keep their certification, physician assistants must complete 100 hours of continuing education every 2 years. The recertification exam is required every 10 years.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Physician Assistants, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm (visited May 17, 2016)

Opportunities for Advancement

● The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) launched its certificate of added qualifications (CAQ) program in 2009 to make it easier for PAs to document their level of expertise.

● Postgraduate educational programs are available in areas such as emergency medicine and psychiatry.

● Overall, there is not much opportunity for advancement as a PA, other than teaching or a specialty.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Physician Assistants, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm (visited May 17, 2016)

Specialties● PA specialties include:

● Addiction medicine ● Oncology● Occupational medicine● Pediatrics ● Dermatology● Anesthesiology● Radiology● Hospital medicine

Information from AAPA, http://www.aapa.org/the_pa_profession/becoming_a_pa/resources/item.aspx?id=1939

Job Outlook• Employment is projected to grow

30% from 2014 to 2024. Opportunities!

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Physician Assistants, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm (visited May 17, 2016)

PA School Example:Duke University School of Medicine, Durham,

NC● Masters of Health

Science in Physician Assisting

● Program Length: 24 months● Average class size:

60 - 70 students● Continuing

Education Programs

● Surgical PA Residency

● Orthopedic PA Residency

● Prerequisites● 2 hours – Statistics● 8 hours – Chemistry● 15 hours – Biological

Sciences● Official GRE scores● 1000 hours of clinical

experience required to apply● Internship hours not

counted● Examples include

EMT, nurse’s assistant, Peace Corps volunteer, etc.

Information from DUMC, http://paprogram.mc.duke.edu/.

Essential Qualities of a PAAlong with necessary clinical abilities, a physician needs to have specific personal qualities and skills in order to enjoy and be successful in his/her career. Some of these include:

● Compassion● Emotional stability● Confidentiality and ethical behavior● Professionalism● Respect● Critical thinking● Effective communication

Work Environment- Most physician assistants work full time- About 1 out of 5 worked part time in 2014- Physician assistants may work nights, weekends, or holidays.

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Physician Assistants, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm (visited May 17, 2016)

Conclusion

- Becoming a PA is challenging yet rewarding

- Great job outlook and growth

- Many new programs keep starting up

- Start experience early!

- May take >1 attempt to gain entry into a program

- One of the top careers to get into for health-care