A physician assistant-certified (or PA) is a medically trained healthcare professional who diagnoses and treats patients for routine conditions under physician supervision. PAs are found in a variety of healthcare settings, including medical offices, hospitals, and surgical centers. The demand for physician assistants has grown in recent years, as an effective means of providing wellness and routine care during a period of physician shortages.

A primary difference between a physician and a physician assistant is that physicians are legally able to practice medicine independently, while PAs are required by law to work within a doctor-managed framework. In most cases, this framework is flexible enough to allow PAs to work semi-autonomously.

A second difference between the two is the extent of their medical education. A physician assistant-certified must complete a two-year master’s degree at an accredited institution, followed by a certification exam. Physicians complete four years of medical school, followed by additional training in residency and fellowship programs.

What Does a Physician Assistant-Certified Do?

PAs provide many of the same services as physicians, with a focus on wellness, education, and routine care. PAs are allowed to:

• Conduct routine office visits, including physical exams and medical documentation.
• Diagnose and treat routine injuries and illnesses.
• Order lab tests.
• Prescribe medications.
• Provide wellness services and patient education.
• Perform minor procedures, such the removal of moles or cysts.
• Assist surgeons during operations.
• Develop treatment plans, including follow-up care.

What Types of Physician Assistants Are There?

One of the values of the physician assistant role in medicine is its flexibility. Because PAs receive a generalist medical education, many of them choose to receive additional training in one or more of the following specialties:

• Anesthesia
• Emergency care
• Ear, nose, & throat (ENT) care
• Family medicine
• Heart medicine (cardiology)
• Internal medicine
• Nervous system (neurology)
• Obstetrics and gynecology
• Radiology
• Skin care
• Pediatrics
• Surgery

When Should You See a Physician Assistant-Certified?

Seeing a physician assistant makes sense anytime you need care for a routine illness or injury, and you don’t have a regular doctor or yours isn’t available. You might make an appointment with a PA if you’re experiencing:

• A mild allergic reaction
• Cold or flu-like symptoms
• Slow-healing cuts or bruises
• Constipation
• Fatigue or feelings of anemia
• Hard-to-manage pain
• Headaches
• Respiratory issues
• Stomach upset, vomiting, or diarrhea

In some communities, PAs are the first-in-line resource for persons with routine medical concerns.

What Can I Expect at My Visit to the Physician Assistant-Certified?

Your first appointment with a physician assistant will lay the foundation for future visits. Your PA will ask about your symptoms, record your family history, and perform a physical exam. As part of the exam, he or she will document your weight, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and glucose (blood sugar) levels. The PA will also ask you lifestyle questions, for example, whether you smoke, what your diet is like, and how much alcohol you consume. He or she may want to schedule you for preventive care or to update your vaccination record. With this information, your PA will assess the major risks to your health, the appropriate steps to take, and what resources you require to manage a current condition or to prevent a future illness.

If evidence exists of a more immediate concern, your PA will confer with a physician-colleague or refer you to a specialist for follow-up diagnosis and care.

If you have health questions, are experiencing symptoms, or have a family medical history that concerns you, the Baptist Health primary care team is ready to serve.