As a PA student I had spent an unimaginable amount of time researching programs, deadline's, admissions requirements and more...which is why this site was created. To make it easier for future students! How about hooking me up with a cup of coffee. Thanks for the support!
A to Z Physician Assistant Programs ALABAMA
|
In the United States, a physician assistant (PA) is an advanced practice clinician licensed to practice medicine with the supervision of a licensed physician.PAs are not to be confused with medical assistants, who perform administrative and clinical tasks in hospitals and clinics under the direct supervision of physicians, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, or PAs. History of the profession The Duke University Medical Center Archives has established the Physician Assistant History Center, dedicated to the study, preservation, and presentation of the history of the PA profession.
PA education is based on the medical school model, although unlike medical school which lasts four years, PA training is usually 2 to 3 years in duration. It is generalist in approach, consisting of classroom and laboratory instruction in medical and behavioral sciences, such as anatomy, microbiology, pharmacology, pathophysiology, hematology, pathology, clinical medicine, and physical diagnosis, followed by clinical rotations in internal medicine, family medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, oncology, emergency medicine, and geriatric medicine, as well as elective rotations. Unlike physicians, who must complete a minimum of three years of residency after completion of medical schools, PAs are not required to complete such residencies. Despite this, there are residency programs in certain specialties for PAs who choose to continue formal education in such a format. A PA may use the post-nominal initials "PA", "PA-C", "APA-C", "RPA" or "RPA-C", where the "-C" indicates "Certified" and the "R" indicates "Registered." The "R" designation is unique to a few states, mainly in the Northeast; The "A" indicates completion of the Army Flight Surgeon Course. Most PAs use "PA-C". During training, PA students are designated PA-S. The use of "PA-C" is limited only to those PAs currently certified and in compliance with the regulations of the national certifying organization, the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). A graduate from an accredited PA program must pass the NCCPA-administered Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) before becoming a PA-C; this certification is required for licensure in all states. In addition, a PA must earn and log 100 Continuing Medical Education (CME) hours and reregister his or her certificate with the NCCPA every two years. Every six years, a PA must also recertify by successfully completing either the Physician Assistant National Recertifying Exam (PANRE) or Pathway II exam.
PAs are licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision, which may be either in person, by telecommunication systems or by other reliable means (for example, regular chart review and consultation). The physician supervision, in most cases, need not be direct or on-site, and many PAs practice in remote or underserved areas in satellite clinics. All states, as well as the District of Columbia, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, have laws or regulations authorizing physician assistants to practice medicine. PAs may also prescribe medications in all of these locations; those who prescribe controlled medications in their scope of practice must also have a DEA number.
The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics report on PAs states, "...Employment of physician assistants is expected to grow 27 percent from 2006 to 2016, much faster than the average for all occupations..." This is due to several factors, including an expanding health care industry, an aging baby-boomer population, concerns for cost containment, and newly-implemented restrictions to shorten physician resident work hours. PAs in primary care practice can purchase $100,000-$300,000 insurance premiums for less than $600 a year. PAs malpractice coverage are higher in greater risk specialties. Money Magazine, in conjunction with Salary.com, listed the PA profession as the "fifth best job in America" in May of 2006, based both on salary and job prospects, and on an anticipated 10-year job growth of 49.65%. According to the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), in 2008 the mean total income for physician assistants working at least 32 hours per week was $89,987. Physician assistants in dermatology or surgical subspecialties can earn $100,000-$200,000, with the mean total income for PAs working at least 32 hours per week in cardiovascular/cardiothoracic surgery listed as $110,468 for 2008.
Australia
Also referred to as "Medical Care Practitioners", PAs are to be employed by the National Health Service. Though currently not a registered profession, PAs can currently practice under delegation rules. Programs are 48 months in length.[2]
In the Federal Government, Uniformed Services, and U.S. Armed Forces U.S. Army PAs typically serve as Medical Specialist Corps officers within Army combat or combat support battalions located in the continental US, Alaska, Hawaii and overseas. These include infantry, armor, cavalry, airborne, artillery and (if the PA qualifies) Special Forces units. They serve as the "front line" of Army medicine and along with combat medics are responsible for the total health care of soldiers assigned to their unit, as well as of their family members. PAs also serve in the Air Force and Navy as clinical practitioners and aviation medicine specialists, as well as in the Coast Guard and Public Health Service. The skills required for these PAs are similar to that of their civilian colleagues, but additional training is provided in advanced casualty care, medical management of chemical injuries, aviation medicine as well as military medicine. In addition, military PAs are also required to meet the officer commissioning requirements and maintain the professional and physical readiness standards of their respective services.
|