Physicians Assistants: What it is not

2008-12-15 15:28:28

( Pharmeceutical-Medical )



Question about the function and similarity between Medical Assistants and Physicians Assistants might arise. A clear definition is needed to lessen the disparity between the two medical practitioners. A physicians assistants is a licensed clinician who is able to practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician. It is not to think of as a medical practitioner who conducts administrative or clinical tasks, like that of a registered nurse, nurse assistants.

Physicians assistants, as compare to other medical practitioner such as registered nurse or nursing assistant, have a more intense training. Their education is based on medical school set- up but with lesser years of training. Physicians courses and subject is also their based of training but in more general approach than that of the physician. No residency is required for a physician assistant. But in order for them to practice their profession, they have to undergo examinations that would give them license to conduct their profession, the same as with the registered nurses tat needed to take licensure examination to conduct their profession.

Advance medical training empower physician assistant to perform different medical practice. They could ask patients of their medical history, perform examinations, and thus can diagnose patients’ illnesses. They could order treatments and prescribed medication. All of these activities are under the supervision of a licensed physician. However, license physician may not be needed to be present always in person, some could be using telecommunication systems to supervise.

There is a great opportunity for employment of physician assistant. One of the reasons could be the unavailability of many medical practitioners in remote places because of smaller ratio of doctors over the volume that needs medical attention. Also the salary grade of physician assistant is lower compare to that of the licensed physician. Employing physician assistant could make the administrative costs for salary of different hospital and medical institutions whether private or public be lowered down and thus will give more stretch to their budget without lowering the standard of the quality medical services that they could provide for their patients. In these times that many were already on their pensioner’s age, the increase number of people retiring with several diseases as compare to the ratio of licensed physician that could attend to them is lower, hospitals may not be able to accommodate the increase number of patients. A smaller number of licensed physicians could attend to them and employing a physicians assistants is a practical step.


All rights Reserved © Tradenet Services srl
Do not duplicate or redistribute in any form.