A Physician Assistant or PA is a California licensed health care professional, highly trained to provide patient evaluation, education, and health care services. A PA works with a physician to provide medical care and guidance needed by a patient. A PA must attend a specialized medical training program at a medical school that includes classroom studies and clinical experience. To practice in California, each PA must pass a rigorous national examination before being licensed by the Physician Assistant Examining Committee, which is part of the California Department of Consumer Affairs' Medical Board of California. The Physician Assistant Examining Committee is responsible for consumer protection, making recommendations about the scope of practice of PA's and providing information about PA's to the health care community and others.
PAs can provide most of the services typically provided by a physician.
They perform physical exams, diagnose illnesses, develop and carry out treatment plans, order and interpret lab tests, suture wounds, assist in surgery, provide preventive health care counseling, and can write prescriptions. Each PA must be supervised by a physician. A doctor has complete responsibility for the care of the patient. PAs share that responsibility with the doctors. The physician supervises the PA either when both are at the same location or by telephone.