Physician Assistant Research Paper
Physician Assistants: A Helping Hand
M. Buckner
OC TECH
Abstract In this paper I will provide focus to an often-overlooked health profession. I am referring to the PA, or, physician assistant. Physician Assistants are some of the best and brightest in the business. The many levels of care at which they practice and operate make them a vital piece to the puzzle that is health care. Physician Assistants have been an integral part of the changes in healthcare through the last 50 years. They are a very versatile group of professionals and we are seemingly finding new ways to utilize their broad talents. We will take an in depth look at the physician assistant and: their role in today’s workforce, the history of the PA and how it has affected …show more content…
modern medicine, and what is necessary to become one. Keywords: physician assistant, health careers
Physician Assistants: A Helping Hand
PA
“The concept of the physician assistant (PA) is difficult to capture in print; it is a dynamic process that is constantly in flux, both in the United Sates as well as globally” (Hooker, R.
S., Cawley, J. F., & Asprey, D. P. 2010, p. vii para. 1). A physician’s assistant is a health care professional whose duties include everything from emergency medicine to the routine time consuming duties of the physician. These duties are pretty broad and far spread. In the book Careers In Health Care Swanson, B (2005) describes those duties as such: The physician assistant can be expected to carry out duties directly with patients, including interviewing patients and taking detailed medical his- tories; conducting physical examinations; ordering and/or interpreting selected diagnostic studies, such as common laboratory procedures and radiologic studies; making tentative diagnoses; performing certain thera- peutic procedures, such as administering injections and immunizations, applying casts, and suturing wounds; following up on patient care; …show more content…
teach- ing and counseling patients regarding nutrition, disease prevention, and family planning; assisting the physician by conducting rounds and record- ing patient progress in inpatient settings; and responding to emergencies, from severe drug reactions to psychiatric crises to heart attacks to uncom- plicated deliveries—but always under the supervision of a physician. (p. 266)
As stated in the passage, a physician supervises all of the work done by a PA. They are usually working under that physician’s license so the Physician is ultimately responsible for the medical conduct or misconduct of the assistant. Unlike RNs physician assistants can prescribe medications in most states. In Florida for example a PA cannot prescribe controlled medications. While RNs can administer most medications, a Masters degree and a promotion to Nurse Practitioner is required to be able to prescribe them. About 50 percent of PAs work in Primary care but they also serve in other capacities and specialties. With such variety and versatility in the profession, we will surely see more evolution of physician assistants and their roles in clinics and hospitals. Much like they have since the inception of the profession.
History Of The Profession
The idea of physician assistants was introduced in the 1960’s; which will forever be remembered as a time of social and technological advancement, revolution, and reform. Physicians needed more help from non-nursing personnel mainly because the number of physicians in general was alarmingly low. Probably even more alarming was the proportion and placement of the few there were. Poor areas were basically unable to keep doctors from moving to and receiving better pay in safer, more affluent areas. It seems that one of the ideas behind this new position was that the realm of nursing was very committed to the hospitality of the patients whereas the doctors’ main focus was to the medical well being of the patient on a more scientific approach. That is not to say that the doctors didn’t or don’t care, but more of their time and effort is for curing the patients through a medicinal solution. The nurses provide most of the TLC. Physicians were finding themselves swamped with work as a lot of the tasks that physicians had to carry out alone were out of the scope of practice and training for the nursing staff as well. The PA --- is a bridge to the gap, so to speak.
According to the research of Institute for Career Research (2005): In the 1960s, when both physicians and educators recognized that there weren’t enough primary care physicians, and that they were unevenly distributed, Dr. Eugene Stead put together the first class of physician assistants. Dr. Stead was at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina. He taught the first class in 1965, selecting Navy corpsmen who had received a great deal of medical training and experience in Vietnam. Since the corpsmen also needed jobs when they returned home, the program worked to everyone’s advantage. Dr. Stead taught them the necessary skills to convert their battlefield experience to useful civilian skills. The military influence also affected how he taught the PAs. He based the program on the fast-track training the military gave to physicians during World War II so they could get out to the field quickly. (p.5)
Going back to the roots of the PA in the military. Another factor that drove the creation of this job was the return of all the corpsmen and medics in various branches of service. Most of them wanted to contribute to the country in a new way with the medical knowledge gained in the horrors of those jungles. That coupled with the shortage of physicians throughout the country made this not only a convenience to the health care system, but also a necessity.
By 1971 the government saw the potential of the PA and began funding programs for the education of these practitioners. After that the US started with 12 programs. By 1980 that number had grown almost 5 times to 56. By the late 90’s that number stood at over 100.
Training and Makings of a PA PAs were made and continue to be the model for a jack-of-all-trades in medicine. They are made “general” in a sense to be able to impact many different areas of health care. PA programs also provide an alternative to those who wish to do more hands on care with patients but do not have the time or resources to become a physician but are also disinterested in becoming a nurse. If you’d wish to become a doctor but are wary of the amount of time it takes to become one; then becoming a PA may be a viable option. The programs for becoming a PA usually take 2-3 years whereas if you wish to become a doctor, that could take anywhere from 8-12 years. Not to mention how grueling and time-consuming medical school is! PA schools are becoming more and more competitive however; so preparation and planning are paramount to your success. There are about 150 accredited PA programs in the United States. More often than not, as with most jobs that require lives to be at your stake, you will have to be selected by a committee to be accepted. In The Ultimate Guide to Getting Into Physician Assistant School Rodican, A. J. (2011) states that there are 5 basic categories that these programs use to evaluate candidates: 1. Passion 2. Academic ability and test scores 3. Medical experience 4. Understanding of the PA profession 5. Maturity (p. 7)
Passion is seen as an important trait of a healthcare professional. Without it you will not have the desire to do whatever it takes to provide the best possible care, and ultimately, save lives. Academic ability is needed because the human anatomy and physiology is by no means simple. Other complex concepts will be required of you to learn as well such as chemistry, calculus, microbiology and physics. Keeping good grades should be a priority. The number of credit hours per semester needs to be taken into consideration also. The typical PA school requires long periods of class time. In most cases 8 – 10 hours worth. Next is medical experience. This is important due to the intense nature of emergency medicine. Even if your desire is not to work in an emergency department this is essential. Emergencies are usually not premeditated and a familiarity of medical procedures will surely help you succeed. Also, a physician assistant must be versatile. Prior knowledge of medicine and cross training in other areas is conducive to that. Its pretty self-explanatory as to why you would need an understanding of the profession you wish to undertake. Last but not least is maturity. In a health care setting you will be asked to do a variety of things that an immature mind cannot handle. People will trust you with their deepest darkest medical secrets. Other times you will come across peculiar situations that require you to maintain a level of professionalism that has come to be expected of health care providers. You must complete the prerequisites, apply and be accepted. Numerous interviews are very likely and challenging coursework lies after that. Most PAs have a bachelor’s or masters degree. Additional study must be required to be certified in a specialty as well. There are also programs in the military that facilitate the training necessary to become a PA. This training is done through partnership of the US military and accredited programs across the country. This benefit usually comes at the price of a service requirement to whichever branch of the military’s program you get accepted into.
The Salary of a PA According to the Institute for Career Research (2005), the median annual income of a PA is around $50,000 with a low of $30,000 to a high of $90,000. There are a few factors that influence these numbers with geographical location being at the top of the list. Other factors include but aren’t limited to: previous work experience, specialty, level of training, and the type of facility they are employed by. Bonuses for productivity and good performance are possible as well. Usually a health care facility will pay for the continued education of its employees along with the various fees that come with having a license.
Summary
In summary, the path to becoming a PA is not an easy one, but it is certainly an attainable one.
It requires lots of planning along with the morals and character of a true professional. This is a career path requiring lots of selfless work, a compassionate heart, and a sharp mind. The pay is competitive and benefits are aplenty. To be fully prepared to pursue this profession one must gain experience in the medical field and be prepared to do a lot of research. If these things are done with the right tenacity then problems on the road to meet that end should be minimal.
References
Swanson, B. (2005). Careers in Health Care. McGraw-Hill. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com
Career As a Physician Assistant : High Level Professionals Working Directly With Doctors in Delivering Healthcare. (2005). Institute for Career Research. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com
Rodican, A. J. (2011). Ultimate Guide to Getting Into Physician Assistant School. McGraw-Hill Medical (p.7). Retrieved from
http://web.ebscohost.com
Hooker, R. S., Cawley, J. F., & Asprey, D. P. (2010). Physician Assistants : Policy and Practice. F. A. Davis Co (p.vii). Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com
M. Buckner
OC TECH
Abstract In this paper I will provide focus to an often-overlooked health profession. I am referring to the PA, or, physician assistant. Physician Assistants are some of the best and brightest in the business. The many levels of care at which they practice and operate make them a vital piece to the puzzle that is health care. Physician Assistants have been an integral part of the changes in healthcare through the last 50 years. They are a very versatile group of professionals and we are seemingly finding new ways to utilize their broad talents. We will take an in depth look at the physician assistant and: their role in today’s workforce, the history of the PA and how it has affected …show more content…
modern medicine, and what is necessary to become one. Keywords: physician assistant, health careers
Physician Assistants: A Helping Hand
PA
“The concept of the physician assistant (PA) is difficult to capture in print; it is a dynamic process that is constantly in flux, both in the United Sates as well as globally” (Hooker, R.
S., Cawley, J. F., & Asprey, D. P. 2010, p. vii para. 1). A physician’s assistant is a health care professional whose duties include everything from emergency medicine to the routine time consuming duties of the physician. These duties are pretty broad and far spread. In the book Careers In Health Care Swanson, B (2005) describes those duties as such: The physician assistant can be expected to carry out duties directly with patients, including interviewing patients and taking detailed medical his- tories; conducting physical examinations; ordering and/or interpreting selected diagnostic studies, such as common laboratory procedures and radiologic studies; making tentative diagnoses; performing certain thera- peutic procedures, such as administering injections and immunizations, applying casts, and suturing wounds; following up on patient care; …show more content…
teach- ing and counseling patients regarding nutrition, disease prevention, and family planning; assisting the physician by conducting rounds and record- ing patient progress in inpatient settings; and responding to emergencies, from severe drug reactions to psychiatric crises to heart attacks to uncom- plicated deliveries—but always under the supervision of a physician. (p. 266)
As stated in the passage, a physician supervises all of the work done by a PA. They are usually working under that physician’s license so the Physician is ultimately responsible for the medical conduct or misconduct of the assistant. Unlike RNs physician assistants can prescribe medications in most states. In Florida for example a PA cannot prescribe controlled medications. While RNs can administer most medications, a Masters degree and a promotion to Nurse Practitioner is required to be able to prescribe them. About 50 percent of PAs work in Primary care but they also serve in other capacities and specialties. With such variety and versatility in the profession, we will surely see more evolution of physician assistants and their roles in clinics and hospitals. Much like they have since the inception of the profession.
History Of The Profession
The idea of physician assistants was introduced in the 1960’s; which will forever be remembered as a time of social and technological advancement, revolution, and reform. Physicians needed more help from non-nursing personnel mainly because the number of physicians in general was alarmingly low. Probably even more alarming was the proportion and placement of the few there were. Poor areas were basically unable to keep doctors from moving to and receiving better pay in safer, more affluent areas. It seems that one of the ideas behind this new position was that the realm of nursing was very committed to the hospitality of the patients whereas the doctors’ main focus was to the medical well being of the patient on a more scientific approach. That is not to say that the doctors didn’t or don’t care, but more of their time and effort is for curing the patients through a medicinal solution. The nurses provide most of the TLC. Physicians were finding themselves swamped with work as a lot of the tasks that physicians had to carry out alone were out of the scope of practice and training for the nursing staff as well. The PA --- is a bridge to the gap, so to speak.
According to the research of Institute for Career Research (2005): In the 1960s, when both physicians and educators recognized that there weren’t enough primary care physicians, and that they were unevenly distributed, Dr. Eugene Stead put together the first class of physician assistants. Dr. Stead was at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina. He taught the first class in 1965, selecting Navy corpsmen who had received a great deal of medical training and experience in Vietnam. Since the corpsmen also needed jobs when they returned home, the program worked to everyone’s advantage. Dr. Stead taught them the necessary skills to convert their battlefield experience to useful civilian skills. The military influence also affected how he taught the PAs. He based the program on the fast-track training the military gave to physicians during World War II so they could get out to the field quickly. (p.5)
Going back to the roots of the PA in the military. Another factor that drove the creation of this job was the return of all the corpsmen and medics in various branches of service. Most of them wanted to contribute to the country in a new way with the medical knowledge gained in the horrors of those jungles. That coupled with the shortage of physicians throughout the country made this not only a convenience to the health care system, but also a necessity.
By 1971 the government saw the potential of the PA and began funding programs for the education of these practitioners. After that the US started with 12 programs. By 1980 that number had grown almost 5 times to 56. By the late 90’s that number stood at over 100.
Training and Makings of a PA PAs were made and continue to be the model for a jack-of-all-trades in medicine. They are made “general” in a sense to be able to impact many different areas of health care. PA programs also provide an alternative to those who wish to do more hands on care with patients but do not have the time or resources to become a physician but are also disinterested in becoming a nurse. If you’d wish to become a doctor but are wary of the amount of time it takes to become one; then becoming a PA may be a viable option. The programs for becoming a PA usually take 2-3 years whereas if you wish to become a doctor, that could take anywhere from 8-12 years. Not to mention how grueling and time-consuming medical school is! PA schools are becoming more and more competitive however; so preparation and planning are paramount to your success. There are about 150 accredited PA programs in the United States. More often than not, as with most jobs that require lives to be at your stake, you will have to be selected by a committee to be accepted. In The Ultimate Guide to Getting Into Physician Assistant School Rodican, A. J. (2011) states that there are 5 basic categories that these programs use to evaluate candidates: 1. Passion 2. Academic ability and test scores 3. Medical experience 4. Understanding of the PA profession 5. Maturity (p. 7)
Passion is seen as an important trait of a healthcare professional. Without it you will not have the desire to do whatever it takes to provide the best possible care, and ultimately, save lives. Academic ability is needed because the human anatomy and physiology is by no means simple. Other complex concepts will be required of you to learn as well such as chemistry, calculus, microbiology and physics. Keeping good grades should be a priority. The number of credit hours per semester needs to be taken into consideration also. The typical PA school requires long periods of class time. In most cases 8 – 10 hours worth. Next is medical experience. This is important due to the intense nature of emergency medicine. Even if your desire is not to work in an emergency department this is essential. Emergencies are usually not premeditated and a familiarity of medical procedures will surely help you succeed. Also, a physician assistant must be versatile. Prior knowledge of medicine and cross training in other areas is conducive to that. Its pretty self-explanatory as to why you would need an understanding of the profession you wish to undertake. Last but not least is maturity. In a health care setting you will be asked to do a variety of things that an immature mind cannot handle. People will trust you with their deepest darkest medical secrets. Other times you will come across peculiar situations that require you to maintain a level of professionalism that has come to be expected of health care providers. You must complete the prerequisites, apply and be accepted. Numerous interviews are very likely and challenging coursework lies after that. Most PAs have a bachelor’s or masters degree. Additional study must be required to be certified in a specialty as well. There are also programs in the military that facilitate the training necessary to become a PA. This training is done through partnership of the US military and accredited programs across the country. This benefit usually comes at the price of a service requirement to whichever branch of the military’s program you get accepted into.
The Salary of a PA According to the Institute for Career Research (2005), the median annual income of a PA is around $50,000 with a low of $30,000 to a high of $90,000. There are a few factors that influence these numbers with geographical location being at the top of the list. Other factors include but aren’t limited to: previous work experience, specialty, level of training, and the type of facility they are employed by. Bonuses for productivity and good performance are possible as well. Usually a health care facility will pay for the continued education of its employees along with the various fees that come with having a license.
Summary
In summary, the path to becoming a PA is not an easy one, but it is certainly an attainable one.
It requires lots of planning along with the morals and character of a true professional. This is a career path requiring lots of selfless work, a compassionate heart, and a sharp mind. The pay is competitive and benefits are aplenty. To be fully prepared to pursue this profession one must gain experience in the medical field and be prepared to do a lot of research. If these things are done with the right tenacity then problems on the road to meet that end should be minimal.
References
Swanson, B. (2005). Careers in Health Care. McGraw-Hill. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com
Career As a Physician Assistant : High Level Professionals Working Directly With Doctors in Delivering Healthcare. (2005). Institute for Career Research. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com
Rodican, A. J. (2011). Ultimate Guide to Getting Into Physician Assistant School. McGraw-Hill Medical (p.7). Retrieved from
http://web.ebscohost.com
Hooker, R. S., Cawley, J. F., & Asprey, D. P. (2010). Physician Assistants : Policy and Practice. F. A. Davis Co (p.vii). Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com