Physician Assistants

What Does a Physician Assistants Do?

Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• 1Make tentative diagnoses and decisions about management and treatment of patients.
• 2Interpret diagnostic test results for deviations from normal.
• 3Prescribe therapy or medication with physician approval.
• 4Obtain, compile, and record patient medical data, including health history, progress notes, and results of physical examination.
• 5Examine patients to obtain information about their physical condition.
• 6Administer or order diagnostic tests, such as x-ray, electrocardiogram, and laboratory tests.
• 7Instruct and counsel patients about prescribed therapeutic regimens, normal growth and development, family planning, emotional problems of daily living, and health maintenance.
• 8Perform therapeutic procedures, such as injections, immunizations, suturing and wound care, and infection management.

Required Skills

• Critical Thinking
• Reading Comprehension
• Active Listening
• Writing
• Speaking
• Monitoring
• Active Learning
• Science
• ChartWare EMR
• eClinicalWorks EHR software
• Electronic medical record EMR software
• Epic Systems
• Healthcare common procedure coding system HCPCS
• Medical condition coding software
• Medical procedure coding software
• MEDITECH software
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software

Physician Assistants Salary