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Who is a Physician Assistant?
The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease ~ Voltaire
In a career as a physician assistant, an individual serves as the support system to provide treatment to patients and keep healthcare facilities organised. Have you ever wondered how tough it would be for a physician if he or she had to manage everything on his or her own? Documentation of patient's treatment, preparing and sterilising medical equipment for further use, comforting patients, and describing treatment procedure, progress, disease and its impact on health to each patient and his or her family members can become so hectic for a physician and surgeon.
Therefore a physician assistant helps the physician and surgeon to carry out his or her duties. Here, in this article, we will discuss how to become a physician assistant in India and the roles and responsibilities, skills, eligibility and physician assistant qualifications,
Physician Assistant in a Nutshell
Individuals who opt for a career as a physician assistant is healthcare professional who provides required support to physicians, surgeons and other medical staff. They examine, diagnose and treat patients under physician supervision.
Quick Facts for Physician Assistant
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Industry
Healthcare
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Average Salary in India
₹41499
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Suitable for
Male, Female, Others
Anyone can become a physician assistant with relevant skills such as compassion, empathy, patience and communication skills including relevant educational qualifications and experience. It is not a gender-specific role.
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Any special needs
No
The role of physician assistant demands physical fitness as it requires frequent movement to check on patients, and provides assistance to doctors and surgeons, preparing medical equipment and documenting the treatment. Therefore, we could say a career as a physician assistant is not suitable for individuals with special needs.
Table of Contents for Physician Assistant
What is the role of Physician Assistant?
In a physician assistant career, individuals are involved in each area of medical practice including primary care, family medicine, surgery, emergency medicine and psychiatry. The physician assistants in India may specialise in varying medical practices. Several may provide assistance in surgeries while several may become specialised assistants in paediatrics that involve examining a child and giving vaccinations on a routine basis.
Reviewing Medical History
The role of a physician assistant is to review the medical history of patients to avoid any complications in the treatment procedure and easily diagnose the medical conditions of patients.
Examining Patients
The Physician Assistant roles and responsibilities involve routine examining patients and diagnosing their injuries or illnesses. Identify the symptoms of health disorders or diseases.
Recommending Test
A physician assistant work involves recommending the required medical tests to identify the extent of the disease and measure the progress in the treatment procedure. These tests may include X-rays, blood test or other diagnostic tests.
Administering Treatment
The Physician Assistant roles and responsibilities include plans for the treatment of patients. He or she educates and counsels them about the treatment and its effectiveness. A physician assistant researches the latest treatments to provide the best possible patient care. He or she also prescribes medicines.
Types of a Physician Assistant
In this section, we will discuss various physician assistant career options or types of physician assistant.
Nurse: A nurse is responsible for providing patient care. He or she is assigned the responsibility of pre and post-operative care. A nurse has to maintain the patient’s medical records and evaluate the progress in the patient's treatment.
Pediatric Physician Assistant: A pediatric physician assistant provides support to doctors specialising in the treatment of children. He or she treats, diagnoses and examines patients under the age of 14 years and updates their medical records.
Orthopaedic Physician Assistant: An orthopaedic physician assistant provided support to the physician specialised in treating bones, joints, ligaments and muscle injuries, fractures and other relevant health disorders. He or she updates the patient’s record, reviews the medical history and recommends an x-ray or CT scan to check the internal damage or progress in recovery.
What is the workplace/work environment of Physician Assistant like?
A physician assistant's work environment may vary depending on the type of healthcare facility. He or she may provide services in clinics, nursing homes, hospitals and rehabilitation centres. A physician assistant career is both physically and emotionally challenging as it involves seeing the patients at their worst in pain with injuries. An individual who opts for a career as a physician assistant has to spend work hours standing on his or her feet providing necessary support to patients and evaluating their medical conditions.
Does Physician Assistant require travelling?
Likely
Individuals, in physician assistant careers may often be required to make house calls or visit nursing homes whenever required to provide patient care.
Employment Shifts
Full Time
A physician assistant's work shifts vary. It could be on a rotational basis in several healthcare facilities that function 24 hours. An individual who opts for a career as a physician assistant works on weekends, and public holidays and has night shifts too. There are extended physician assistant work hours.
Employment Nature
Contractual, Permanent
The nature of employment of physician assistants varies depending on the requirements of healthcare facilities, nursing homes and hospitals.
Work Place
Hospital, Healthcare Facilities, clinic, Nursing Homes
A physician assistant's workplace may vary depending on the type of setting he or she works. It could be a hospital, clinic, nursing home or other healthcare facility. Individuals who opt for a career as a physician assistant may also provide services at home if required or during an emergency.
Presence in Geographical Area
Rural, Semi-urban, Urban
Individuals, in physician assistant careers, are healthcare workers. The requirement for a healthcare worker is everywhere whether it is rural or urban areas. In rural areas, physician assistants are responsible for providing primary care. Metropolitan cities such as Chennai, Coimbatore, Mumbai and Bengaluru provide promising physician assistant employment opportunities.
Time Pressure
Likely
Individuals, in a physician assistant career, require work under frequent time pressure. They have to check multiple patients and provide them with accurate treatment on a daily basis.
Overtime Details
Individuals who opt for a career as a physician assistant are often required to work extended hours due to extreme work pressure to provide the best possible patient care.
Weekly Hours of Work
Min 40 Hours
Individuals, in physician assistant career work hours, are usually extended. It is a challenging role that demands standing on feet for hours, checking on patients and evaluating their health. They often required to work on weekends, public holidays and night shifts.
How to become a Physician Assistant?
Steps to become a Physician Assistant
If you are someone interested in making your career in the medical or healthcare field and taking care of people then a career as a Physician Assistant is one of the best options. If you are interested in helping physicians in taking care of patients and looking for the details on how to become a Physician Assistant after 12th then below we have provided detailed step-by-step guidance for you.
What are the skills and qualities required to become a/an Physician Assistant?
There are several requirements to opt for a physician assistant career. You need to acquire physician assistant skills over time to perform efficiently and progress in the physician assistant career.
Communication Skills: A career as a physician assistant demands proficiency in communication skills. He or she has to address complex medical issues on a daily basis, explain the prescription to patients and their family members and share the details of progress in the treatments. In a career as a physician assistant, individuals are also required to communicate effectively with doctors and other healthcare professionals.
Compassion: Compassion is crucial for any healthcare career. A physician assistant has to calm down the patient in extreme pain or distress provide them treatment listen to their queries about medications and resolve them with patience.
Analytical Skills: As a physician assistant, you’ll be required to diagnose the symptoms of a specific health disorder or disease. He or she has to examine the patient and provide accurate care for a speedy recovery. It involves developing and implementing responsive care plans.
Problem-Solving Skills: Individuals who opt for a career as a physician assistant must be able to identify complex medical issues and resolve them with the best possible solutions. He or she has to administer a treatment plan and ensure it is appropriate for the patient without any other side effects.
Popular Online Medicine Courses and Certifications
Which certifications and internships can be helpful in becoming Physician Assistant?
We have provided below a list of certification courses that may help you to upgrade your skills and knowledge for the role.
Traditional herbal medicine in supportive cancer care: From alternative to integrative | |
Anatomy: Gastrointestinal, Reproductive and Endocrine Systems | |
Internship Availability
One can seek out physician assistant internship opportunities right after graduation. The demand for physician assistant interns has also increased due to the pandemic. Individuals may find opportunities through recruitment websites such as Naukri.in, Monster, Glassdoor, Internshala, Lets Intern and other platforms. Cold emailing to healthcare facilities may also be fruitful in locating internship opportunities. An intern, in a physician assistant career, performs the work assigned to him or her by the doctor or surgeons. It includes maintaining patient records, collecting samples or ordering lab tests.
Also Read: Career as Surgical Assistant
Career Path Progression for Physician Assistant
Junior Physician Assistant: A junior physician assistant is a healthcare professional who provides support to physicians and performs his or her routine work to allow them to give more time to non-routine cases and patients.
Senior Physician Assistant: A senior physician assistant performs many such tasks that are generally performed by the physician. It includes examining patients, writing prescriptions, reviewing medical history and evaluating the progress.
Physician Assistant Jobs and Salaries
Junior Physician Assistant
Contractual/Permanent
- Average Salary 28831
Job Description
A junior physician usually performs various routine work of doctors. He or she is involved in routine diagnoses of patients and writing prescriptions for the speedy recovery of patients.
Salary Description
The average salary of junior physician assistant is Rs. 345975 per annum, according to payscale.com.
Senior Physician Assistant
Contractual/Permanent
- Average Salary 54167
Job Description
A senior physician assistant provides patient care. He or she may perform regular treatment procedures such as stitching cuts, setting fractures and prescribing medicines. A senior physician assistant helps doctors in performing preliminary preparation work on patients.
Salary Description
The average salary of a senior physician assistant is Rs. 650000 per annum, according to payscale.com.
What is the job outlook for Physician Assistant?
In the current time when the pandemic is at its peak, a career like a physician assistant in India is seeing the shortening of employment opportunities. There is a constantly rising demand for physician assistants in India and other healthcare professionals. The number of patients seeking medical facilities is tremendously increasing. We need a more stable healthcare system with educated healthcare professionals and well-equipped infrastructure. Concerning the current situation, there will be an increased number of job opportunities for healthcare workers in all parts of the country. A physician assistant career has become the most demanding job role in India.
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Frequently Asked Questions for Physician Assistant
Que. What is the average salary of physician assistant?
Ans.The average salary of physician assistant in India is Rs.350921 per annum, according to payscale.com. The average physician assistant's monthly salary ranges from Rs.29243.
Que. What are top employers of physician assistants?
Ans.Top physician assistant employers are hospitals, diagnostic centres, emergency care units, healthcare centres, educational services, and nursing homes.
Que. What are top colleges of physician assistants?
Ans.Top physician assistant colleges are Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, St Stephen's College of Nursing, Delhi, Holy Family College of Nursing, New Delhi, BJ Government Medical College, Pune and AFMC Pune - Armed Forces Medical College.
Que. What are top physician assistant recruiters?
Ans.Top physician assistant recruiters are AIIMS Hospital, Fortis Hospital, Bharati Hospital, Max Hospital, Artemis Hospital and Apollo Hospitals.
Que. Is physician assistant a good career?
Ans.Yes, a physician assistant is a good career and it is a high-paying salary. Most physician assistant jobs come with benefits of medical benefits for employees and their families.
Que. Does physician assistant need MBBS?
Ans.It is not needed that you pursue an MBBS. You can opt for a BSc, Bpharma or any other medical and healthcare-related degree.
Que. Is PA equivalent to MBBS?
Ans.No, PA is a Physician Assistant which is a position that can be obtained by pursuing any of the medical or healthcare bachelor's and master's degrees and MBBS is a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery.
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