What does a physician assistant do? If you are entertaining a career in the medical field, this is a question you have probably asked. While you may love the idea of becoming a doctor, the thought of spending years in medical school and thousands of dollars on your education may not sound as great. This has likely led you to consider a career as a physician assistant.
It is common for those who dream of being doctors to become physician assistants instead. Since a physician assistant can do many things that doctors do, like prescribing medications, this is a great alternative for those who cannot go through medical school. You will work under a physician who has gone through medical school, but you can gain quite a bit of independence and even maintain your own list of patients in many circumstances (though not always).
One perk to this career field is the number of places you can seek employment. Many physician assistants work in medical offices, such as a family doctor, pediatrician, or a cosmetic surgeon. Many physician assistants end up in hospitals where they can assist a variety of doctors. You can also work in clinics. If an establishment employs even one doctor, they probably have a need for at least one physician assistant.
Some physician assistants choose to specialize in one form of medicine, while others work with doctors in general practice. If a certain element of medicine grabs your attention, you can elect to take coursework so you are prepared to work in that field.
Your education for this career field will prepare you to take on administrative responsibilities, as well as interactions with patients. Your exact responsibilities on the job will be determined by your choice of specialization and the type of medical office you are employed with. You may also be limited in your duties depending on the state in which you practice.
What administrative tasks are required from a physician assistant? The majority of the office work is focused on insurance claims, pharmacies, and coordinating with other doctors on behalf of patients. Insurance claims need to be processed, prescriptions need to be called into pharmacies, and specialist referrals need to be made daily, and much of that work is carried out by the physician assistant.
Doctors should find that their work is much easier because of the workload carried by their assistant. All of the loose ends need to be tied up so the doctor can attend to the needs of patients without wasting time on paperwork and phone calls.
Doctors see patients on a daily basis, and many physician assistants do the same. A complete visit with a physician assistant can include a comprehensive medical history, an overview of symptoms and problems, a diagnosis, and the prescription of medications. A physician assistant can do everything the patient requires, and that includes prescribing medications that are controlled.
When problems come up or the assistant is not sure about a course of action, the doctor is always standing by for assistance. Most physician assistants work on their own much of the time, but there may be cases in which they work very closely under the watch of a physician.
So, why is a physician assistant not a real doctor if they can do all of these things? It is very easy to understand when you think about the extra training and experience a physician must obtain before taking on their title and establishing a practice. It must be noted that as a physician assistant you will have to go through some advanced learning, but you won’t be required to go through the strenuous programs required to become a doctor.
Now that you are aware of what does a physician assistant do, you can find out more about information about this fast growing career at: Physician Assistant Salary