Physician Assistant
Taylor Gerstner
What is a Physician Assistant?
PA's can:
Obtain medical histories
Examine
Diagnose and treat patients
Citations- What is a PA? http://www.aapa.org/landingquestion.aspx?id=290
- What can a certified PA do for me? http://www.nccpa.net/public
What Certifications are Necessary?
Citations- Certification Process Overview http://www.nccpa.net/CertificationProcess
What are Their Daily Activities?
-Look over/examine and obtain medical information and physical conditions
-Interpret diagnostic test results, comparing to average/standard results.
-Make a tentative diagnosis, to know what steps to take next.
-Compile the patient's medical history, data, and other notes
-Organize for particular scans/tests to be done pertaining to symptoms
-Based on results, solidify diagnosis and prescribe medicine, surgeries, treatments, or therapy (may need physician's approval)
-Check back in, follow up if necessary
Citations- Physician Assistant Job Description http://job-descriptions.careerplanner.com/Physician-Assistants.cfm
What are the Education Requirements?
*before entering a PA school/program many people have a bachelor's degree and 3 years of experience.
-get a Bachelor's degree in a PA program (BA-PA)
-to be accepted in the program you must have a 3.0 GPA
-obtain a Master's degree in a 2 year PA program
-pass the PANCE test for certification
Citations- How to Become a Physician Assistant http://www.learnhowtobecome.org/physician-assistant/
What is the Average Income?
On average, PA's make an annual amount of $92,970. The top 10% make approximately $130,620, while the bottom 10% make about $62,030.
Citations- Physician Assistant: Salary http://money.usnews.com/careers/best-jobs/physician-assistant/salary
What Skills are Needed to be a Physician Assistant?
-Problem solving
-Outgoing
-Decision making
-Time management
-Service orientation
-Math and science
-Social perceptiveness
Citations- What Skills are Required for Physician Assistants? http://www.mymajors.com/career/physician-assistants/skills/
Where do Physician Assistants Work?
-Hospitals
-Clinics and practices
-Family doctor's office
-Other health care facilities
Citations- More about Physician Assistants http://www.mayo.edu/mshs/careers/physician-assistant
Fun Facts about Physician Assistants:
-it's Physician Assistant, not Physician's Assistant
-there were approximately 95,583 certified PA's going into 2014
Citations- Key Facts and Information http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-engineering-careers/health/physician-assistant#keyfactsinformation
Physician Assistants http://www.nccpa.net/Upload/PDFs/2013StatisticalProfileofCertifiedPhysicianAssistants-AnAnnualReportoftheNCCPA.pdf