Physician Assistant
At your visit, you may be seeing a physician assistant. Physician assistants provide high quality health care services to patients and to the community. We hope this information will answer any questions you may have.
You can schedule appointment with our following Physician Assistants.
- Aimee Lajoie, MPAS, PA-C.
- Emily Aguilar, NP.
- Kelly Jones, MS, PA-C.
- Anu Rao, MS, PA-C.
- James Evans, MS, PA-C.
- Wen Tung MPAS PA-C.
- Natalie Henry, MPAS, PA-C.
- Megan Heard, MPAS, PA-C.
What is a Physician Assistant?
A Physician Assistant, or PA, is a licensed and highly skilled health care professional, trained to provide patient evaluation, education, and health care services. A PA works with a physician to provide medical care and guidance needed by a patient. PAs are health care professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision.
What types of services are provided by a PA?
A PA performs many diagnostic, preventative, and health maintenance services. PAs can see patients of all ages from newborns to geriatric patients. PAs can provide services that include, but are not limited to the following list.
- Taking health histories
- Performing physical examinations
- Ordering & interpreting X-rays and Laboratory tests
- Performing & interpreting routine
- Assistants diagnostic tests
- Establishing diagnoses
- Treating and managing patient health problems
- Performing well women exams (pap smears, breast exams etc)
- Administering immunizations and injections
- Instructing and counseling patients
- Providing continuing care to patients in the home, hospital, or extended care facility
- Providing referrals within the health care system
- Performing minor surgery
- Providing preventative health care services
- Acting as first or second assistants during surgery
- Responding to life-threatening emergencies
How does a PA work with their supervising physicians?
The relationship between a PA and the supervising physician is one of mutual trust and respect. The physician assistant is a representative of the physician, treating the patient in the style and mannerdeveloped and directed by the supervising physician. The physician and PA practice as members of a medical team. Each PA must be supervised by a physician. The physician supervises the PA either when both are at the same location or by telephone. The supervising physician must always be available to the PA should the need arise. The supervising physician is responsible for following each patient’s progress.
What areas of medicine can Physician Assistants work in?
Physician assistants (PAs) are found in all areas of medicine. They practice in the areas of primary care medicine that is: Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology as well in Surgery and other specialties such as cardiology, gastroenterology, rheumatology, orthopedics etc.
Can Physician Assistants prescribe medications?
All 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam and the common wealth of the Northern Mariana Islands have enacted laws that authorize PA prescribing.
How is a Physician Assistant educated?
Physician assistants are educated in intensive medical programs which are nationally accredited. Because of the close working relationship the PAs have with physicians, PAs are educated in the medical model designed to complement physician training. Upon graduation, physician assistants take a national certification examination developed by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistant (NCCPA) in conjunction with the National Board of Medical Examiners. Graduation from an accredited physician assistant program and passage of national certifying examination are required for state licensure.
What does the C stand for in PA-C?
Physician Assistant-Certified. It means that the PA who holds the title has met the defined course of study and has undergone testing by the NCCPA. To maintain their national certification, PAs must log 100 hours of continuing medical education every two years and sit for a recertification every six years.
