To investigate the role of a physician assistant, I have completed thorough research along with discussion with physician assistants at the Rhode Island and Miriam Hospital. From researching I have learned that they work under supervision and responsibility of an attending physician. However, they have several independent duties that are extremely important to healthcare. They are experts in general medicine and take an important position in diagnosing, treating, and prescribing medicine to patients. Physician assistants receive education and go through clinical rotations involving several different departments. These include family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, general surgery, emergency medicine, and …show more content…
From talking to and observing a physician assistant in the emergency department of Rhode Island Hospital, I have been informed of basic questions held for the patient such as, "How are you feeling today, what is bothering you", "How long has this been going on for?", "Any chance that you are pregnant?", and "Have you recently been out of the country?". Physician assistants then perform a physical examination of the patient and establish a basic treatment plan. Observations have shown me that charting is a major part of a PA in the emergency department and other departments. I learned that this is where a description of the patient is recorded and it is also where the plan for treatment is written. After examination, a physician assistant takes the important role in ordering and interpreting tests depending on the patient's conditions. A physician assistant is capable of prescribing medication to patients but also must submit the patient to an attending physician for consultation. In the emergency, I witnessed a physician assistant complete all of these tasks and also discharge patients. Discharging is important in the emergency department because new patients are constantly transferring in.
My chosen degree program at Kaplan University is a bachelor’s in health science. I chose this degree program because I am an aspiring physician assistant(PA). I chose this field of study because I have always been inspired to provide service to my community. My mother was a police officer and my father worked as an EMT. I did not choose their specific fields; however, I chose something that I knew fit me.
This implies to a medical assistant .because if someone was to ask about a patient for different purposes it’s up to you to let it out. As an assistant you would have to ask the doctor first and they judge off if they want to or not. And as well as collecting insurance and other important information making sure that you can take care of the
It is the most influential source of insight for PA’s practicing in MI. Its purpose is to “encourage its members to abide by the AAPA code of ethical conduct”, “serve as a public information center with respect to its members, health professions, governments agencies, and the general public”, and “ represent its members in matters of legislation in order to maintain and further develop the practice of the profession” 2. Since the mid 1970s, MAPA has been an important advocator for its members and has not only worked on the improvement of working environments for physician assistants but is also involved in politicizing for enhancements in the scope of practice as well as raising a voice on actions that may impose a threat on the Physician Assistant occupation. At the turn of the century, the ‘Barriers to PA Practice’ list was created by MAPA in order to “overturn all of the antiquated laws disallowing PAs to practice in aspects of care or allowing negative interpretation by administrators of health plans and State agencies” 3. Since this list was created, many new public acts have been passed allowing physician assistants in Michigan to gain more independence. Some important advancements that occurred during this time included MAPA’s involvement in overturning office supervision guidelines insurances such as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan imposed on physician assistants as well as overturning the insurances refusal to pay surgical PAs, Public Act 281 which allowed referrals from physician assistant to a physical therapist, and Public Acts 124-126 which approved Physician Assistants to be added to a “list of professionals able to form professional corporations (PC) and professional limited liability corporations (PLLC) and clarifies that physicians and
Physician assistants work under the supervision of a physician. The service provided by a PA is contingent upon their education, experience, the state laws, facility policies and the needs of the patients at the practice. The standards which defines the service that PAs provide allow for faster, effective and specialized health care. Physician Assistants are licensed to obtain patient medical histories, conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret test, develop treatment plans, assist in surgery, write prescriptions for controlled substances, and educate and counsel patients.
After high school I am hoping to attend Indiana University to major in Human Biology in pursuit of one day becoming a physician’s assistant. During my high school years I have put fourth much effort to succeed to the best of my ability. I have taken many courses throughout the years that have pushed me and allowed me to start shaping the career path that I plan to take. During the summer before my junior year I found out that my parents were getting a divorce. When I found out, the only thing I could think about was how my life was never going to be the same.
“The services that physician assistants provide may include diagnostic evaluations, therapeutic remediation, surgical assistance, and pharmaceutical prescription.” (Physician Assistant Career). “In general practices, physician assistants are likely to see patients in need of physical examinations, psychological assessments, laboratory testing, surgical consultations, or infectious disease diagnoses. In more specialized clinics, physician assistants may provide all of these services, along with services that are unique to that medical specialty. For example, an oncology doctor is more likely to require physician assistants to possess proficiency in cancer diagnostic tools, cancer treatments, and laboratory studies.”
They really don’t have a strong law on what a medical assistant can or cannot do. A medical assistant cannot diagnose or treat a patient. They can inform the patient on what type of diagnose the doctor is giving such as explaining it in a way they can understand. You are not allowed to actually treat a diagnose. A medical assistant also cannot make a plan for a patient care, cannot interpret test results, and so
The anesthesiologist assistant has a very large responsibility in caring for surgical patients. They see patients starting in pre-op and follow the patients course all the way through the Post Anesthesia Care Unit
In these case, the medical assistant is patient and kind at the response of the patient. They do not judge them or treated them improperly, they maintain their professionalism and thy to calm, support and help the patient in need (Maciejewski, 2007). The medical assistant is there to recall information, encourage and support the patient (Maciejewski, 2007). In me medical field, medical assistants do not minimize the significance of the disease or the procedure, instead they promote, and encourage patient to
For centuries nations have looked for ways to meet military, and public health needs, as well as providing care to rural and underserved areas where physicians did not exist. The coming about of the physician assistant brought with it a way to solve some of these problems in a more immediate way. Originally these men and women’s experience on the battle field had prepared them to work in an
What is like to be physician’s assistant? What does your daily routine consist of? Often times physician’s assistant job can be very demanding.
Also, each position has a unique way to approach and manage the patient’s care. Significance According to the AAPA, The Affordable Care Act was the first place where Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners were termed as two of the three “primary care providers. ”1 The PA and the NP each play a similar role
The Physician Assistant (PA) is an essential component of a medical staff. Their duties include, Examining and treating patients, ordering and interpreting diagnostics, educating patients, and promoting overall health and wellness (“Physicians Assistants”. (2015, December 17). Retrieved May 26, 2016, from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm). Physician Assistants work in many different areas of medicine under the direct supervision of a primary care physician.
It is also the responsibility of the physician assistants to examine patients, as would a doctor, in order to obtain information about a patients’ physical condition. In some hospitals physician assistants could find themselves practicing medicine on teams with other physicians, surgeons, and other healthcare workers. They would examine, diagnose and treat a multitude of patients from a broad range of backgrounds.
Calvin Neal Exploring a Health Career: Physician Assistant Ever since my cousin Paul, whom I’ve always looked up to, went to college and became a PA, I’ve wanted to follow in his footsteps. The definition of a physician assistant is “someone qualified to assist a physician and carry out routine clinical procedures under the supervision of a physician.” However, physician assistants can be so much more than that. They work in numerous fields such as pediatrics, obstetrics, orthopaedics, and with several health care providers such as nurses, surgeons, and physicians.