Tag: physician assistant

Physician assistants in Oregon have successfully advocated for a rebranding, choosing to be called physician associates instead. This shift, effective from June, marks a significant milestone as Oregon becomes the first state to permit PAs to adopt this title officially. The move is driven by the desire for recognition amidst a growing physician shortage. While the change won’t affect their pay, it aims to clarify their professional status and role in healthcare. However, critics argue that it may create confusion among patients and blur distinctions between different healthcare providers. Nonetheless, the evolution of titles and roles in healthcare reflects broader trends, with projections suggesting that advanced practice providers like PAs will outnumber primary care physicians by 2031.

What do Physician Assistants Do?

Physician assistants (PAs) are healthcare professionals who practice medicine under the supervision of licensed physicians. They are trained to perform a wide range of medical tasks, including conducting physical examinations, diagnosing and treating illnesses, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, assisting in surgeries, prescribing medications, and providing patient education and counseling. PAs work in various healthcare settings, such as hospitals, clinics, and primary care practices, and collaborate closely with physicians and other members of the healthcare team to deliver comprehensive patient care. Their role bridges the gap between nursing and medicine, allowing them to contribute significantly to patient management and healthcare delivery.

There is currently an abundance of excellent opportunities for physician assistants (PAs) across various healthcare settings, making it an exciting time to pursue a career in this field. As the demand for healthcare services continues to rise, so does the need for skilled and knowledgeable PAs to provide quality patient care. The job outlook for physician assistants is highly promising, with a projected growth rate of 27% from 2022 to 2032, significantly exceeding the average for all occupations.

Hospitals, clinics, physician practices, urgent care centers, and specialty clinics all offer diverse opportunities for PAs to contribute their expertise. Additionally, advancements in telemedicine and digital healthcare platforms have created new avenues for PAs to engage with patients remotely, further expanding their scope of practice. Moreover, the increasing recognition of PAs as vital members of the healthcare team has led to greater autonomy and responsibility in their roles.

2024 Locum Tenens and Permanent Job Board for Physician Assistants

 With competitive salaries, flexible work schedules, and opportunities for career advancement, the landscape for PAs is filled with possibilities for professional growth and fulfillment. Whether one is interested in primary care, emergency medicine, surgery, or a specialized area of medicine, there are countless pathways available for PAs to thrive and make a meaningful impact in the healthcare field. Search permanent and Locum Tenens jobs now at momentumhcs.com/jobs

Sources:

Axios.com
bls.gov
journalofethics.ama-assn.org
Openai.com

If you’re considering joining the healthcare profession in 2023, you might consider one of the top ten rated jobs in demand–becoming a physician assistant.

A National Academy of Medicine survey reports that 75% of physician assistants feel “happy at work.” The pay is excellent in this profession, with a low unemployment rate and job growth expected to climb by 27.6% by 2031.

Physicians supervise physician assistants’ examinations, diagnosing, and treating of patients. Physician assistants make hospital rounds and evaluate patients for treatment and medications like their leading physicians.

Needed Education

Your career will begin with a bachelor’s degree in a science-based field. Physician assistant program prerequisites like statistics, ethics, and physics are not necessarily required for your bachelor’s.

Every physician assistant program is different, but most schools require at least 1,000 hours of healthcare experience and patient care experience. Healthcare experience hours do not include direct patient care like patient care experience hours.

You will need a letter of recommendation from your professors, supervisors, physicians, or other certified physician assistants to apply for a physician assistant program. This letter should give the program insight into your character, work ethic, intelligence, and integrity.

Along with your letters of recommendation, you will also need to submit a 5,000-word essay telling why you desire to become a physician’s assistant. This essay is one of the most critical pieces to the program application because it allows you to tell your story about why you chose this medical profession.

Before being accepted to complete the most difficult 23-27 months of your academic life, you will have an intense interview by the physician assistant program.

The final step in becoming a physician’s assistant is passing the PANCE (the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam). The PANCE is a 300-question, five-hour exam that, if passed, will allow you to begin practicing your new profession–but only after complying with your individual state’s pa licensing requirements.

Many states are changing the licensing requirements for physician assistants in 2023. It is essential to find out if your state has made any changes and what the updated certification fees will be.

Your training will continue after passing the PANCE. The certification board will require you to complete additional credit hours of medical education to be recertified every two years.

Needed Character Traits

Becoming a physician’s assistant is complex and requires total commitment through the educational and certification process. For you to be successful within the physician assistant field, you will need to evaluate yourself and be confident that you are a person who loves to learn, thrives on helping others, and that you collaborate well with others.

Becoming a physician’s assistant is an individual decision; the dedication requirements are intense and rigorous, second only as needed by a physician. However, the salaries are healthy (over $120,000 per year), jobs are available, there’s room for advancement to specialize and physician’s assistants like what they do.

Whatever career in medicine you may decide on, entering a healthcare career in 2023 will be an excellent choice. The population is aging and in need of more care, the unemployment rate is low, and your options will be numerous no matter how you choose to serve.

Rely on an Experienced Healthcare Recruiting Agency

If you’re an existing Physician’s Assistant and you want to take control of your compensation and work/life balance, Momentum Healthcare Staffing is here to help! We connect qualified clinicians like you to the best hospitals. Please bookmark and check back often at our job board to find our latest Physician’s Assistant positions. You can also call us at (321) 420-6344.