An In-depth Review of The Physician Assistant Career Description

The History of the Career

In the mid-1960s, many healthcare professionals realized there was a shortage of physicians qualified for primary care. Proposals for an advanced medical assistant surfaced in the early ’60s. For example, Charles L. Hudson in the Journal of the American Medical Association proposed for advanced medical assistants with training above that of a technician but below a doctor, in an article posted in 1961. To combat this deficit, Eugene A. Strad Jr of the Duke University Medical Center put together the first class of physicians assistants (or PAs) in 1965. He achieved this by selecting 4 recruits from the Navy Hospital Corpsman who had received extensive medical training during their time in the military. Because of this background, Stead based the training of the physician's assistants on the quick training procedures used for military physicians during World War II. This class, the first group of PA’s to graduate, graduated from the Duke University PA program on October 6 of 1967.

The relevance of physicians assistance is due to the lack of actual physicians present in most areas. Physicians assistants can take some of the responsibilities of doctors and allow them to focus on more complicated matters. According to the American Academy of Physician Assistants, PA's are medical professionals who diagnose illnesses, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and frequently serve as a patient’s primary healthcare provider. They serve a significant role in the growing field of healthcare. The Bureau of Labor Statistics foresees the PA job market to increase 31% from 2020 to 2030.

My reason for choosing to study this profession is that I am interested in learning more about an integral part of the health care system and a possible future career choice. Most PA programs last anywhere between 23-18 months, allowing PA’s to be immersed in a medical profession at a younger age than physicians. In addition, I am interested in the versatility of specialty options. While physicians are stuck with subspecialties, PA’s can more easily switch.

Career Description

Physicians assistants work in an array of medical facilities. They can work in offices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, and other healthcare settings. They work full-time jobs, having the typical PA work about 40 hours a week. They frequently may need to work additional hours, as many are on call. Physicians' assistant's shifts may vary, and they may need to work night shifts, weekends, or even holidays. They spend the majority of their time making rounds and working with patients. Some physicians assistants are also responsible for administrative duties like updating patients' records, communicating with patients online, or taking notes. One of the advantageous portions of having a PA role is their versatility in the specialization. PAs can work in all areas of medicine, including anesthesia, cardiology, dermatology, emergency medicine, family medicine, general practice, internal medicine, neurology, pediatrics, and surgery. Advanced training is frequently required to specialize in a particular area, and responsibilities, requirements, and salary vary with specialization.

How is this career-related to Biosciences? This career works with biosciences by using scientific methodologies and procedures on a routine basis. While performing diagnostic tests on patients, physicians assistants are using biosciences tools to observe out-of-the-ordinary behaviors in human biology like responses to stimuli. Using knowledge of basic biology, a required course in the education of PAs, physicians assistants can review medical charts and make preliminary diagnoses. The physician assistant career also works in conjunction with biotechnology because they utilize advances in medicine, medical equipment, and procedures developed by biotechnology companies.

A recent development in the physician assistant career is related to education levels. Many new PAs are starting to get doctorate degrees in related fields. This is so that PA's are “on par with other doctorate-holding medical professionals.” Many will seek a Doctorate of Physician Assistant or DPA while still working full-time, health-related jobs.

Benefits and Drawbacks of the Career

Cons of this career choice are the inconvenient and unknown work hours on a day-to-day basis. PAs also make less money than similarly working physicians. Another drawback similar to most medical careers is the expensive and extensive schooling required and the academic rigor in these classes. The pros much outnumber the cons. There are many specialties to choose from, giving a less limiting feeling than most. There is job security due to the rapidly increasing need for medical professionals and the above-average market need for PAs according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. PA’s also required less schooling than physicians and acquired much less debt on average than their doctor counterparts, while still being able to perform hands-on procedures and engage in patient affairs.

Educational Requirements

In high school, many of the classes taken are required for college coursework. To become a Physicians assistant, students will need a deep background in sciences and mathematics. Classes like trigonometry and advanced physics classes will help. In addition, to get into accredited colleges, advanced coursework in programs like Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses are helpful and may even give college credit. Some electives during high and helpful school years for the PA occupation include classes in anatomy and physiology, computer sciences, health education, and nursing CTE classes. Group activities, hobbies, and volunteerinternship hours also help with acceptance into pre-physician assistant colleges.

Many Physician assistant educational programs have prerequisites from college. Many of these schools require two years in college classes in behavioral and basic sciences. Many additionally require completion in classes like chemistry, physiology, anatomy, and biology. Almost all programs require 2 years of general chemistry with lab experience or organic chemistry classes to demonstrate knowledge of organic functions. 2 semesters of biology coursework with lab implications are required, along with a semester of physiology, human anatomy, and microbiology. 2 semesters of advanced English and math in the form of calculus, statistics and algebra are required. Two Semesters of physics classes are also a prerequisite for physicians assistant programs.

The level of education needed for physicians assistant school is a minimum of a bachelor's degree in a health career-related major. However, it is recommended for people to obtain a master's from an accredited educational program. Data show that the most common degrees for aspiring PAs are in biology and health sciences, although no need to obtain a relevant degree as long as the required credits are completed. Although the choice of your undergraduate degree will not matter too much, students with more relevant majors like medical courses and science make a stronger candidate for PA schools.

Accredited Physicians Assistant schools are important in the education of aspiring PAs because they allow connections to potential workplaces and connections with others in the same field. Some colleges that provide students with good opportunities are Northeastern University, Baylor School of Medicine, and Arizona State University. Northeastern helps aspiring PAs reach their career goals by allowing students to earn dual master's degrees in either PA and a Masters's in Public Health or Health Information. Northeastern has also been a top-rated physician assistant master’s program since 1971. Baylor School of Medicine offers an advanced biomedical facility on their campus. This can help in the further studying of students seeking a master’s degree at a top-ranked medicinal school. Lastly, ASU offers a Pre Physicians Assistant Pathway 4-year plan that allows students to take the GRE during their junior year. Additional benefits of this program include internship and volunteer opportunities at local outreach programs and hospitals.

There are many skills needed to become a registered Physicians assistant. Before enrolling in a PA program, many students need around three years of healthcare experience, working with patients. Many do this by working as a registered nurse, EMT, or paramedic. During PA school, students also complete up to 2000 hours of clinical rotations working in clinics, physicians' offices, and long-term care facilities. Once you have graduated from a PA program, students are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) administered by the NCCPA. If this is passed, then you need a state license to practice. Currently, all states in the US require that PA’s pass the PANCE after graduation from a PA program.

Employment

The first step in the employment process is to get prepared for a PA school. Because these programs are so competitive, students interested need to start gaining healthcare experience and finishing prerequisites as early as possible. Healthcare experiences can be volunteering at hospitals, being an EMT or paramedic, or being a nurse at local medical centers. In college, coursework in behavioral and basic sciences for about two years is required, a requirement shared with most premedical studies. Many PA programs have prerequisites in chemistry, anatomy, types of biology, English, and mathematics. Most students have a bachelor's, but a higher degree is always recommended, and about three years of healthcare experience. The next step is to attend an accredited PA program. Most of these programs last 3 academic years and can grant master's degrees. Many newer programs can additionally offer dual masters or doctorate degrees to students. Academic life consists of normal classroom instruction along with clinical rotation. Students learn about anatomy, diagnosis, biology, medical ethics, and much more while completing over 2,000 clinical hours in an array of medical locations. This can be in private practices, primary care clinics, or long-term facilities. Students have rotations in all specialties. The following step is to become certified through the National Commission in Certification of Physical Assistant by completing the PANCE exam. After that, registered Physicians assistants can use the title Physician Assistant-Certifies or PA-C after their name. Next, the now PA’s obtain state licensing and maintain that license while working as a medical professional.

According to the AAPA, Physicians Assistants work in hospitals, medical offices, community health centers, nursing homes, retail clinics, academic facilities, and correctional institutions. PAs can also work in companies in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device manufacturing industries.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual pay for a physician's assistant was $115,309 as of May 2020. The top 10% of PA’s made over $162,470 a year working upwards of 40 hours a week. Benefits tied to employment include dental, medical, and vision insurance along with retirement and vacation plans. Some employers provide more or less compensating benefits.

And the last one, an internships that can be beneficial to future physicians assistants are shadowing internships. By shadowing medical professionals, it lets colleges and PA programs know that you are interested in this particular field. Shadowing internships offer pre-medical students the ability to gain exposure in the specialty that they are pursuing, like becoming a physician's assistant. For college of high school students, many internships are held over the summer. Positions that help students gain healthcare experience are equally important in becoming a PA. Students can work as assistants to medical professionals, EMTs, Paramedics, lab assistants, and technicians.