Then we do a lot of what we call problem-solving courses where they learn how to diagnose and make assessment plans. Changes in the physician assistant curriculum are sweeping across the nation, including Texas. Probably 90 percent of the physician assistant programs will be at the master's degree level within a few years. UTMB will be moving to the master's degree hopefully by next summer. It's going to be a 26-month master's degree program.
Physician assistants provide services that deliver health care in two types of scenarios.
In busy doctor's offices, health clinics and hospitals, they make the flow of work for doctors easier by performing basic tasks, such as physical exams and preliminary assessment plans that will eventually be carried out by the physician. They do follow-up work to track a patient's progress, also under the direction of the doctor. Physician assistants are people-oriented and good professional communicators. They can take what a doctor may say in a hurried, technical manner, and help the patient interpret what it really means to them with respect to their personal care. They can do 80 percent of what the primary physician can, but they have to be supervised by a physician.