PA's interview patients, take medical histories, perform physical examinations, order laboratory tests, make tentative diagnoses, and prescribe appropriate treatments. Studies show they have the ability to care for 8 out of 10 people who visit a family practitioner's office in any one day. About half of all PA's assist physicians in such specialty areas as pediatrics and surgery. They perform routine procedures such as physical examinations, provide postoperative care, and assist during complicated medical procedures such as cardiac catheterization. These specialist PA's include child health associates, orthopedic physician assistants, urologic physician assistants, surgeon assistants, and emergency room physician assistants.
Physician assistants work in the same places as physicians.
Hospitals, clinics, and physicians' offices usually provide a comfortable, well-lighted environment, although PA's must often stand for long periods and do considerable walking. The workweek and schedule vary according to the setting. The workweek of PA's who work in physicians' office may include some night office hours or early morning hospital rounds to visit patients. Employment Physician assistants held about 48,000 jobs in 1990. In the early years of the occupation, informal training was not uncommon, but today, nearly all States require that new PA's complete an approved program.