| Certified physician assistants (PA's) have been a | | | | doctor) for about 75% of the different conditions |
| reality in the medical field since 1965, when the | | | | seen in a primary care setting. |
| program began at Duke University. There are | | | | PA's have to be prepared both clinically and |
| currently just over 135 different training modules | | | | academically to provide health care services. This |
| within this field and all are still in use today to | | | | is done under the direction and supervision of a |
| ensure a well-rounded training program. | | | | Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) or MD. Their |
| Most of these programs require it's applicants to | | | | responsibilities may include performing |
| have at least two years of college, as well as | | | | preventative, therapeutic, health maintenance and |
| some type of experience within a health care | | | | diagnostic services. This can also expand to |
| scenario. It can be as an EMT (emergency medical | | | | working in residential nursing care under the |
| technician), ambulance attendant, licensed practical | | | | supervision of an MD or DO. |
| nurse, an associate-degree nurse or as a health | | | | Recently, as early as 2006, PA's cannot receive |
| educator. However, because it is such a | | | | direct third-party (insurance) reimbursements for |
| competitive area, the average PA has a bachelor's | | | | their services, but they are billed for and through |
| degree in some field and usually about 4 years or | | | | their supervising employer or doctor. They |
| more of health related experience. | | | | practice in a variety of settings in almost every |
| Although physician assistants have been | | | | medical and surgical specialty area. |
| predominantly male, the numbers of females in | | | | The majority (approximately 45%) of them |
| this sector has grown to be more than 58% of | | | | practice within primary care areas, with 28% of |
| the active PA's. The reason for the number of | | | | those being in family practice. Other common |
| males in this area is because early in the history | | | | areas of practice are general surgery, emergency |
| of medical assisting, most of these roles were | | | | medicine and other surgical sub-specialties. |
| played by men in the military, who then took their | | | | However, many of the assistants are also |
| on-the-job medical training and transcended into | | | | involved in research, teaching, administration and |
| the private medical sector. | | | | other non-clinical roles. |
| The PA's role, which is associated legally with a | | | | Like many other professions, physician assistants |
| supervising physician, now allows them to | | | | are regulated at different levels. Licensing takes |
| complete tasks that were at one time only | | | | place at the state level according to specific laws. |
| performed by doctors; such as diagnosis, taking | | | | Certification, however, is established through a |
| of history, physical exams and patient | | | | national organization, with requirements for minimal |
| management. Now, studies indicate that a | | | | practice standards for working in any medical |
| physician's assistant has the ability to give superior | | | | sector from a nursing care facility to any other |
| quality health care (comparable to that of a | | | | medical assistant position. |