Physician assistant practice is centered on patient care and may include educational, research and administrative activities. The role of the physician assistant demands intelligence, sound judgement, intellectual honesty, appropriate interpersonal skills, and the capacity to react to emergencies in a calm and reasoned manner. An attitude of respect for self and others, adherence to the concept of privilege and confidentiality in communicating with patients and a commitment to the patient s welfare are essential attributes. The specific tasks performed by individual physician assistants cannot be delineated precisely because of the variations in practice requirements mandated by geographic, political, economic and social factors. At a minimum, however, physician assistants are educated in areas of basics medical science, clinical disciplines and discipline-specific problem solving.
Physician assistants practice in ambulatory, emergency, inpatient, and long-term care settings.
Physician assistants deliver health care services to diverse patient populations of all ages with a range of acute and chronic medical and surgical conditions. They need knowledge and skills that allow them to function effectively in a dynamic health care environment. Evaluation Elicit a detailed and accurate history, perform an appropriate physical examination, order, perform, and interpret appropriate diagnostic studies, delineate problems, develop management plans, and record and present data. Monitoring Implement patient management plan. Therapeutic Perform therapeutic procedures and manage or assist in the management of medical and surgical conditions, which may include assisting surgeons in the conduct of operations and taking initiative in performing evaluation and therapeutic procedures in response to life-threatening situations.