What is a Physician Assistant?

A Physician Assistant is a licensed healthcare professional who practices medicine under the supervision of a Physician. Since 1967, PAs have provided a broad range of health care services from diagnosing and treating medical problems to first-assisting in surgery. PAs work in many areas of medicine including Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, General Surgery, Orthopedics, Dermatology and many others. There are nearly 70,000 PAs in clinical practice in the United States. Connecticut has 1,600 licensed and practicing PAs.

The training and utilization of PAs is supported by the American Medical Association (AMA), the American College of Physicians (ACP) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). The Eighth Report to the President and Congress on the Status of Health Personnel in the United States found that PAs have demonstrated their clinical effectiveness both in terms of quality of care and patient acceptance. The PA profession is projected to grow 26% from 2006 to 2016, much faster than the average for all occupations. This is due to several factors including an expanding health care industry, an aging baby-boomer population and concerns for healthcare cost containment.

The scope of PA practice generally corresponds to the supervising Physician’s practice. At NMMG, PAs work in concert with Primary Care Physicians to diagnose medical conditions, prescribe medication, develop and carry out treatment plans, order and interpret lab tests, perform office procedures (i.e. suturing wounds) and provide preventive health care counseling.

Q: Why should I have a "Physician—PA Team" at New Milford Medical Group?

A: As a patient at NMMG, you are encouraged to become familiar with both your Physician and PA in our "Team Care" approach. This Team approach enhances our ability to provide comprehensive and consistent medical care both routinely and when you need it most. Additionally, this approach allows us to respond quickly to your changing health needs. At the heart of this Team’s effectiveness is ongoing communication between your MD and PA regarding your individual health status. As such, your Physician may advise you to follow up routinely or acutely with a PA. Similarly, your PA may request that you schedule a follow up appointment with your Physician. Keeping both team players involved in your care enhances the quality and consistency of the care you receive.

Q: What is the difference between a PA and Physician?

A: PAs are trained in the medical model. In some schools they attend many of the same classes as medical students. One of the main differences between PA and Physician education is not the core content of the curriculum but the amount of time spent in school. The length of a PA program is about two thirds that of medical school. Physicians are also required to complete an internship and residency in a specialty; PAs do not undertake internship or residencies. Doctors are independent practitioners while PAs must practice medicine in conjunction with Doctors.

Q: How did the PA profession begin?

A: In the mid-1960s, Physicians and Educators recognized a shortage of Primary Care Physicians. In an attempt to expand the delivery of quality medical care, Dr. Eugene Stead of Duke University Medical Center put together the first class of PAs in 1965. He selected Navy Corpsmen who were medically trained during their military service in Vietnam. The PA curriculum of study was based in large part on the method used to train "fast track" MDs during the years of WW II.

Q: What does the "C" in PA-C mean?

A: "PA-C" stands for Physician Assistant-Certified. It means the person who holds that title has satisfied the defined course of study and has completed and passed a Medical Board Examination administered by the National Commission on Certifications of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). The NCCPA is an independent organization comprised of Physicians and other medical professionals. This system helps to ensure quality and high standards for all certified PAs. Similar to Physicians, PAs must continue their medical education by logging 100 hours of continuing medical education every two years and passing a National Board Examination every six years.