 |
To
be a successful Physician's Assistant you should:
- Possess critical listening skills and the ability
to communicate clearly.
- Desire to work with all types of people and work as
a team member.
- Possess good interpersonal skills.
|
| What
type of education and/or training do I need?
Graduation from an accredited PA program, current NCCPA
certification, a bachelor's degree, and documentation
of 60 hours of pharmacology education. |
| Do
I need a license or certification for this career?
Licensure is required in the State of Connecticut. Prerequisite:
Licensure requires bachelor's degree from an approved
PA program, NCCPA certification examination, current NCCPA
certification, and 60 hours acceptable pharmacology course
work. |
| Where
can I get more information? American Academy
of Physician Assistants
950 North Washington St
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 836-2272
aapa.org |
| What
is the salary for this career? $60,320-$104,000
(Source: 2003 Connecticut Hospital Association
Compensation Survey) |
|
| What
will my job be like? Physician Assistants
(PAs) provide routine health care services with the supervision
of a physician. They have many responsibilities, which
include taking a patient's medical history, performing
physical examinations, ordering and interpreting laboratory
tests, applying casts, prescribing certain medications,
diagnosing and treating illness, suturing wounds and assisting
in surgery.
PAs may specialize in:
- General Internal Medicine
- Pediatrics
- Family Medicine
- General and Thoracic Surgery
- Emergency Medicine
- Orthopedics
- Geriatrics
- and many other fields
|
| Where
could I work? Physician assistants work in
doctor offices, clinics, hospitals, health maintenance
organizations (HMOs), health departments and the military.
Some work in clinics away from the direct supervision
of the physician and communicate with the physician by
telephone or radio.
Other workplace settings:
- Community Health Centers
- Nursing Homes
- Prisons
- Student Health Services
|
| What
is the future of this career? Employment of
PAs is expected to grow much faster than the average through
the year 2008, due to anticipated expansion of the health
services industry and an emphasis on cost containment.
Employment opportunities are expected to be good, particularly
in areas and settings that have difficulty attracting
physicians, such as rural and inner city clinics. |
Where
can I get the education and/or training?
- Quinnipiac University, Hamden
- Yale University, New Haven
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