Nearly 45 percent of all physician assistants are in family medicine or pediatrics. Another 9 percent practice emergency medicine, treating young people who may not have a regular physician and must rely on hospitals and emergency clinics for care. On October 6, PAs around the United States, including the members of Saint Louis University School of Allied Health Professions, will celebrate National Physician Assistant Day. Saint Louis University is the only PA program in the St. Louis region. It was one of the first 12 programs established in the country, founded more than 30 years ago.
PAs are licensed professionals who practice medicine as delegated by supervising physicians.
They provide patient care services that would otherwise be performed by physicians. As part of their comprehensive services, PAs take medical histories, perform physical examinations, order and interpret lab tests, diagnose and treat illnesses, suture lacerations, assist in surgery, and write prescriptions in nearly all states.