The Role Of The Physician Assistant
If you want to become a physician assistant, then you have most definitely chosen a good career path that will allow you to help others. It is important for you to know exactly what a physician assistant is before we talk about the specialties.
A PA generally has the same responsibilities as a physician. The biggest difference between a PA and an actual physician is that the PA must work under the direct supervision of a PhD. This however does not entail that they will be babysat the entire time. They will often work alone and attend to patients in the manner of a true doctor. There are a few different physician assistant job specialties to take into account, some of which are more exciting than others.
Emergency Medicine — This is a very fast paced form of medicine, and only eight percent can handle it. There are a few different parts, for instance there is major medical trauma, medicine, or even surgery.
Pediatrics — This is a pretty rare area to go into. This involves dealing with patients on the in-patient floor as well as high-risk deliveries. They will take on the job of assessing newborns, as well as covering the ER.
Psychiatry — In this position, a PA will evaluate inpatients, go over case with the supervisor, and recommend medication dosage. In the vast majority of cases, a psychiatry PA will work in a hospital.
Obstetrics — An OB-GYN Physician Assistant will work in an operating room, a clinic a maternity ward, or even an inpatient OB-GYN room. They will of course assist in the operating room, counsel patients, and receive women for
Internal Medicine — There are many parts to internal medicine, for example cardiology, neurology, hematology, and even dermatology. This station will also involve making hospital rounds with the chief resident, examine patients, along with the assessment of lab results.
Surgery — Claiming an astonishing twenty-two percent of PA’s, this is one of the most common specialties. There are number of different duties which include pre-, intra- and post-operative care. Physical exams and patient history are just another part of this specialty.
What we have listed are the current primary responsibilities of a physician’s assistant, but there is a strong chance that it will begin to expand soon. The PA position is relatively new, and with that being the case, physician assistant specialties are constantly changing and the requirements will constantly be raised. That being the case, as a PA you will be required to keep up on the latest medical techniques, prescriptions, and treatment methods so that you will be better able to serve patients.
You will not be paid as much as a regular doctor, but it can be a stepping stone for the next phase of your career. If you are ready to experience an exciting career and start helping others for a living, then now would be the right time to start planning and start preparing your resume. This is not an easy position to get into, but it will be well worth it! It is hard to tell where it may lead.