| Our Staff Tampa Bay Orthopaedic Specialists is proud to work with highly skilled Physician Assistants (P.A.s) The relationship between a PA and the supervising physician is one of mutual trust and respect. The physician and PA practice as members of a medical team to provide each patient the highest level of orthopaedic care. Frequently asked questions and answers Q: What is a physician assistant? A: A physician assistant (P.A.) is a licensed health professional who practices medicine under the supervision of a physician. A physician assistant can provide a broad range of health care services. They perform physical exams, diagnose illnesses, develop and carry out treatment plans, suture wounds, perform pre- and post-operative care, assist in surgery and can write prescriptions. Q: How much education and training does a P.A. receive? The P.A. education program lasts 25 months and is accredited by an independent organization sponsored by the American Medical Association. The typical applicant has a bachelor's degree and four years of health care experience. P.A. students study anatomy and physiology, pharmacology, microbiology, internal medicine, pediatrics, emergency medicine, obstetrics, gynecology, geriatrics, surgery, and psychology. P.A. students also spend one year in clinical rotations. During this period, they treat patients in each of the major disciplines of medicine and perform additional course work on campus. Licensure. All States have legislation governing the qualifications or practice of physician assistants, and require physician assistants to pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination. The American Medical Association, the American College of Surgeons, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Physicians, and other medical groups support the physician assistant profession by actively supporting the P.A. certifying commission and the P.A. program-accrediting agency. Q: What does P.A.-C. stand for? What does the C mean? A: Physician assistant-certified means that the person who holds the title has met the defined course of study and has undergone testing by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).Only those successfully completing the examination may use the credential “Physician Assistant-Certified.” To remain certified, PAs must complete 100 hours of continuing medical education every 2 years, and take the recertification exam every six years. |
