Physician assistants (PAs) provide healthcare services under the supervision of physicians. They are formally trained to provide diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive healthcare services, as delegated by a physician. Working as members of the healthcare team, they take medical histories, examine and treat patients, order and interpret laboratory tests and x rays, make diagnoses, and prescribe medications. They also treat minor injuries by suturing, splinting, and casting. PAs record progress notes, instruct and counsel patients, and order or carry out therapy. In 47 States and the District of Columbia, physician assistants may prescribe medications. PAs also may have managerial duties. Some order medical and laboratory supplies and equipment and may supervise technicians and assistants.
Physician assistants work under the supervision of a physician. However, PAs may be the principal care providers in rural or inner city clinics, where a physician is present for only 1 or 2 days each week. In such cases, the PA confers with the supervising physician and other medical professionals as needed or as required by law. PAs also may make house calls or go to hospitals and nursing homes to check on patients and report back to the physician. Additionally, many PAs work in primary care areas such as general internal medicine, pediatrics, and family medicine. Others work in specialty areas, such as general and thoracic surgery, emergency medicine, orthopedics, and geriatrics. PAs specializing in surgery provide pre- and postoperative care, and may work as first or second assistants during major surgery.
The duties of physician assistants are determined by the supervising physician and by State law. Aspiring PAs should investigate the laws and regulations in the States and/or countries in which they wish to practice. Additional information on this profession may be found at: http://www.aapa.org.
Admission Requirements for Graduate-Level Programs
PA programs look for students who have a desire to study, work hard, and to be of service to their community. While currently most physician assistant programs require applicants to have previous health care experience and some college education, the typical applicant already has a bachelor's degree and extensive health care experience. As of 2007, all PA programs will be at the master's degree level.
Undergraduate pre-requisites for graduate-level training to become a PA vary by academic institution, and students interested in the field are encouraged to research individual requirements for programs of interest (http://www.aapa.org/pgmview.php3?state=PA). That said, the undergraduate prerequisites for Arcadia University are described here as a representative program that includes fairly typical application requirements.
Arcadia's admission requirements for the Master of Medical science (MMS) in the physician Assistant Program Include:
1. A bachelor's degree with a "B" average (3.0) or higher from an accredited institution.
2. Test scores for the GRE or the MCAT taken within the past five years.
For more information, visit ourGRE FAQ Sheetor our MCAT FAQ Sheet.
3. Students must have completed the following prerequisites:
(1) Biology: five laboratory/lecture courses from a Biology Department to include at least anatomy, physiology and microbiology. (Biochemistry is recommended.)
(2) Chemistry: four laboratory/lecture courses from a Chemistry Department, to include at least organic chemistry.
(3) Psychology: one course in psychology (Developmental or abnormal psychology is recommended.)
(4) Statistics: at least one statistics course.
(5) Humanities: at least five courses in the humanities are required course in ethics or medical ethics is highly recommended.)
(6) A minimum of 200 hours of patient care experience or a combination of health care experience and research.
An Overview of Graduate-Level Training For Physicians Assistants
Physician assistants are educated in intensive medical programs accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The average PA program curriculum runs approximately 26 months. There are currently more than 130 accredited programs. All PA programs must meet the same ARC-PA standards.
Because of the close working relationship PAs have with physicians, PAs are educated in a medical model designed to complement physician training. PA students are taught, as are medical students, to diagnose and treat medical problems. Education consists of classroom and laboratory instruction in the basic medical and behavioral sciences (such as anatomy, pharmacology, pathophysiology, clinical medicine, and physical diagnosis). This didactic program is followed by clinical rotations in internal medicine, family medicine, surgery, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, emergency medicine, and geriatric medicine.
A PA's education doesn't stop after graduation, though. PAs are required to take ongoing continuing medical education classes and be retested on their clinical skills on a regular basis. A number of postgraduate PA programs have also been established to provide practicing PAs with advanced education in medical specialties.
While there is some variety in the design of graduate-level PA programs, a sample curriculum from Arcadia University for the Master of Medical science (MMS) in the physician Assistant Program is included for your review. For additional information on this program see
http://www.arcadia.edu/default.asp?t=1&m=74:528&pmid=1&pid=425
Master of Medical Science in the Physician Assistant Program at Arcadia
First Year (69 credits)
Summer Semester
* PA Seminar
* Biochemistry
* Human Gross and Microscopic Anatomy/Genetics
* Health Care Systems
* Microbiology and Immunology
* Mechanisms of Disease (Physiology/Pathophysiology)
* Introduction to Pharmacology
Fall Semester
* Clinical Medicine I (Internal Medicine)
* Medical Ethics and Law
* Physical Diagnosis I (includes clinical practicum)
* Pharmacology and Therapeutics - I
* Clinical Diagnostics
* Medical Literature and Research Methodologies
Spring Semester
* Fundamentals of Surgery
* Clinical Decision Making
* Physical Diagnosis II (includes clinical practicum)
* Clinical Medicine II (Maternal/Child Health)
* Emergency Medicine and Clinical Procedures (includes ACLS)
* Mental Health and Illness
* Community Health and Wellness
* Pharmacology and Therapeutics - II
*Please Note: The Program does not allow students to waive courses, nor does it accept students for advanced standing. Curriculum is subject to change.
Second Year (48 Credits)
48 Weeks of Required Rotations
Core Rotations :
* Emergency Medicine - 8 weeks
* Family Practice - 8 weeks
* Geriatrics/Psychiatry - 4 weeks
* Internal Medicine - 4 weeks
* Obstetrics and Gynecology - 4 weeks
* Pediatrics - 4 weeks
* Surgery - 4 weeks
12 Weeks of Elective Clinical Rotations from the following:
* Neurology
* Neonatology
* Forensic Medicine
* Orthopedics
* Radiology
* Rehabilitation
* Trauma Surgery
* Cardiothoracic Surgery
* Dermatology
* Neurosurgery
* Cardiology
* Public Health
Other medical and surgical subspecialties may be arranged.
With approval of the program, students may arrange as many as two of their own rotation sites.
Master of Medical Science (MMS) Degree Requirements (117 credits)
The master's degree is awarded after completing all of the following requirements:
1. The program's required curriculum with a GPA of 2.70 maintained throughout the two years of the program.
2. Successful completion of core competency examinations to progress from the pre-clinical year(s) to the clinical year.
3. Completion of the seven required clinical rotations and a minimum of three elective clinical rotations with a grade of "C" or higher.
4. Continuous enrollment in the program.
5. If extenuating circumstances require additional time over the two-year period, permission must be obtained by the program.
6. Students withdrawing from the program may apply for re-admission.
7. Successful completion of comprehensive written and practical exams and successful presentation at the Senior Colloquium.
8. Meet technical standards for admission, continuation, and graduation.
