Duties of a physician's assistant

Physician’s assistant, as the name implies, is a person who works under the supervision of a physician. A physician’s job is to treat patients. A physician requires help of various people to fulfill this task. This is where the role of physician’s assistant comes in to play. So, a physician’s assistant’s duties are also related to patients and their treatments. Medicine is a field of work that involves diseases of humans. If you are not the kind of a person who can deal with diseases, may be this is not the field of work you belong. On the other hand, jobs in the field of Medicine are some of the most satisfying jobs in the world. The pleasure you get when you save someone’s life is immeasurable. It is important that you understand the duties of a physician’s assistant before you apply for one. The salary is the most important thing that everyone wants to know before entering a job. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , the median pay of a physician’s assistant is $ 86,410 per year and $ 41.54 per hour.

The main duty of a physician’s assistant is to practice medicine under the direction and supervision of a physician. This involves talking to patients, examining them and diagnosing certain injuries and diseases and providing treatment. A physician’s assistant talks to the patient when he or she comes with a problem. He takes a proper history that is essential for the diagnosis and further management of the patient. Then he examines the patient in order to find the cause for the illness, to make the diagnosis and to decide on the management plan. Sometimes, the physician’s assistant can order certain investigations such as X-rays. The assistant analyses the gathered information and finally comes to a diagnosis. After making the diagnosis, he can treat it if it is a minor injury or an illness. They can do minor procedures such as suturing, splinting, casting etc. The duty of the physician’s assistant does not end with treating the illness. It is his responsibility to advice the patient regarding prevention of the disease before they get discharged. Sometimes, the physician’s assistant is appointed to patient education camps. In such camps, he delivers knowledge regarding health issues to the general public. The physician’s daily work also includes doing rounds in the hospital or the nursing home.

Now you can see that the work of a physician’s assistant is quiet similar to that of a physician. The only difference is that they only treat minor conditions. You can gather more information regarding physician’s assistants from the American Academy of Physician Assistants.