PayMyDoctor Online | (828) 258-0397 | Home | + Patient Portal Advanced Practitioners Days & Hours of Operation History Awards Leadership Team Advanced Practice Providers Practice News Careers CIMA PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS/NURSE PRACTIONERS How Advanced Practitioners Serve Our Patients Advanced Practitioners are a critical part of the collaborative team working with you, the patient. You will meet two types of Advanced Practitioners in our office: Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Physician Assistants (PAs). CIMA PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS Catherine Haggart PA-C Heather Hopper PA-C About Physician Assistants A physician assistant (or PA) is a nationally certified and state-licensed medical professional. PAs practice medicine on health care teams with physicians and other providers. They practice and prescribe medication in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and all U.S. territories, with the exception of Puerto Rico. Education & Training PA programs are intense, two- to three-year, graduate-level programs that require the same prerequisite courses as medical schools. Most programs require students to have about three years of health care training and experience. Students take courses in basic sciences, behavioral sciences and clinical medicine across subjects such as anatomy, pharmacology, microbiology, physiology and more. Our PA’s have complete more than 2,000 hours of clinical rotations. Unique Approach Physicians and PAs working together in a team-oriented practice is a proven model for delivering high-quality, cost-effective patient care. PAs function as primary care providers in the patient-centered medical home as part of a multidisciplinary clinical team led by a physician. About Nurse Practitioners NPs are quickly becoming the health partner of choice for millions of Americans. As clinicians that blend clinical expertise in diagnosing and treating health conditions with an added emphasis on disease prevention and health management, NPs bring a comprehensive perspective to health care. Education & Training NPs have completed a master’s or doctoral degree program, and have advanced clinical training beyond their initial professional registered nurse preparation. Unique Approach What sets NPs apart is their emphasis on the health and wellbeing for the whole patient. With a focus on health promotion, disease prevention, and health education and counseling, NPs guide patients in making smarter health and lifestyle choices. 4 Vanderbilt Park Drive, Suite 100 Asheville, NC 28803 (828) 258-0397 FORMS PRIVACY STATEMENT SITE MAP ©2021 - All rights reserved by Carolina Internal Medicine Associates Website by Integritive Web Design :: Asheville, NC