Hospital Physician Assistant Job Description |
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Job Duties
Physician assistants work closely with either doctors or surgeons in providing patients with medical care and treatment. Physician assistants are fully qualified to provide patients with the same care that doctors and surgeons give. It is their responsibility, under strict supervision and sometimes direct observation, to implement and development treatment plans for those in their care. Actual responsibilities differ from state to state as governed by law. General duties may include examining and treating patients for illnesses and minor injuries, ordering or carrying out therapy, and assisting doctors during surgery.
Physician assistants typically work in hospital settings and clinics. Assistants that work in hospitals may be required to work nights and weekends, but generally work 40 hour weeks. When working in private practices, hours will greatly depend on the supervising physicians schedule.
Job Qualifications and Compensation
Programs to become physician assistants generally take around two years to complete and are offered through a number of institutions, including four-year colleges, allied health schools, medical schools, and academic health centers. Every state has a different set of laws that govern the position of physician assistant, however all states require candidates to take and pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination. The certification needs to be re-applied for every six years. Moreover, physician’s assistants must usually pass drug tests and background checks to qualify for the position.
Work as a physician assistant is similar to that of a doctor. This is a high-intensity position at times as physician assistants could potentially see patients with serious or life-threatening ailments, illnesses, or injuries. Most professionals in this field have earned college degree and have had some form of experience in a health-related field. Pay for this position is comparable with that of a doctor, only slightly less, with the highest 10% of all physician assistants employed making over $100,000 a year. The average physician assistant can expect to make around $75,000 a year, with the opportunity for benefits that include healthcare coverage, retirement savings plans, bonus programs, and paid time off.
Who’s Hiring?
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