The Top Doctors Specializing in PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT in IN
Updated as of March 07, 2024
A physician’s assistant (PA) is a licensed clinician who practices medicine in partnership with doctors. In the United States, the role was created to respond to a shortage of doctors during the mid-1960s. Today, PAs play an essential role in areas with limited medical access. They work semi-autonomously and must work in association with a physician. This may be a medical doctor (MD) or a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO). The physician doesn’t necessarily need to be on-site when the PA performs tasks, but most states require them to be readily available through telecommunications. Physician’s assistants are trained to perform many tasks also performed by doctors, such as taking medical histories and ordering tests. Some PAs may also have additional training to work in specialized care settings. PAs can work in various settings, including hospitals, doctor’s offices, nursing homes, educational settings, prisons, rural clinics, and more. The duties of a PA depend on the setting in which they work but may include: Taking a medical history, Performing a physical exam, Diagnosing conditions, Treating conditions, including developing treatment plans, Ordering tests, Interpreting test results, Prescribing, though this may be limited, especially with controlled substances, Providing preventive care advice, Performing medical procedures, Making rounds in specific settings like hospitals, Assisting in surgery, and Research. PAs have a master's degree level of education that includes clinical training and courses on behavioral and medical sciences. They’re trained in various clinical settings, including specialty settings, such as surgery and gynecology. Unlike nurse practitioners, who must specialize in a specific population, PAs receive education in general medicine and receive training to practice medicine and not nursing. Depending on the setting in which a PA works, they are typically responsible for practicing medicine as allowed by law in the state they’re based in, including in specialized settings.For example, a PA working alongside a general surgeon may be responsible for closing incision sites and providing surgical aftercare. However, they are not responsible for performing the actual surgical procedure. In some situations, PAs may have minimal supervision. Especially in rural settings, where they act as primary care providers. Doctors may only visit occasionally, but they may collaborate more often via phone or video call with the PA. The majority of PAs work in surgery or primary care settings, such as family practice. PAs may work in many specialty settings and have additional training that allows them to perform specialized tasks.Those who choose to, may get additional certification from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) in these subspecialties after fulfilling requirements: Cardiovascular and thoracic surgery (for conditions affecting the heart, lungs, and other structures in the thorax), Dermatology (conditions affecting the skin), Emergency medicine, Hospital medicine, Nephrology (conditions affecting the kidneys), Orthopedic surgery (for conditions affecting the muscles and bones), Pediatrics, and Palliative medicine and hospice care (comfort care and caring for the terminally ill. The average training time for PAs is about 24 months. In most cases, PAs have several years of experience in the medical field before embarking on PA school training. For example, PAs may have a background in the following: Nursing, Emergency first responder services, A degree in the sciences, such as a bachelor of science in biology, physiology, or anatomy. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, more than 200 programs are accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. After completing their studies, PAs then need to: Pass a national certification exam, Complete 100 hours of continuing education every two years, Recertify by passing the exam again every six years. To practice medicine, would-be PAs must pass the NCCPA's Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE). This is the only recognized certification in the United States. Someone with a different credential is not qualified to perform PA duties in the United States.
Name | Address |
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RICHARD KAY |
SOUND PHYSICIANS OF INDIANA, LLC 600 GRANT ST GARY, IN 46402 Map |
DAVID DAUGHERTY |
FORT WAYNE ORTHOPAEDICS, LLC 7601 W JEFFERSON BLVD FORT WAYNE, IN 46804 Map |
JASON GAISFORD |
RACC MEDICAL ASSOCIATES LLC 1314 E 7TH ST , SUITE 201 AUBURN, IN 46706 Map |
LINDSEY RUSH |
CARDIAC SURGERY ASSOCIATES SC 8111 S EMERSON AVE , ST FRANCIS HOSPITAL INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46237 Map |
ALISIA CURRAN |
RIVERVIEW HOSPITAL 395 WESTFIELD RD B , OB/GYN SPECIALISTS OF INDIANA NOBLESVILLE, IN 46060 Map |
BETHANY SCHULTZ |
PARKVIEW HEALTH SYSTEM INC 11109 PARKVIEW PLAZA DR FORT WAYNE, IN 46845 Map |
RICHARD SHORE |
THE HEALTH AND HOSPITAL CORPORATION OF MARION COUNTY 2732 W MICHIGAN ST INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46222 Map |
LAKIN HOCKER |
LASER AND SKIN SURGERY CENTER OF INDIANA PC 8925 N MERIDIAN ST , SUITE 200 INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46260 Map |
CATHERINE BYERS |
ORTHOPAEDICS NORTHEAST PC 5050 N CLINTON ST FORT WAYNE, IN 46825 Map |
CASSANDRA KAISER |
CREDO HEALTH GROUP LLC 10050 AUBURN PARK DR FORT WAYNE, IN 46825 Map |