Why You Should Consider a Physician Assistant as Your PCP

Doctors are vital to everyday life and the quality of care within communities. We all know that. Good doctors are knowledgeable, understanding, and patient. Many people search high and low to find a physician they’re comfortable with and trust.

However, the duties of a physician assistant rank very close to those of a doctor. Like physicians, a physician assistant is highly trained and skilled in the medical field. They take their patient’s health just as serious as a doctor.

Keep reading to find out how similar PA’s are to physicians:

To become a PA you must pass a national certification exam. Like MD’s and DO’s, a PA must apply to obtain state licensure through the board of medicine and are required to complete 100 continuing medical education hours every two years.

Once certified, PA’s can practice in any field of medicine they so desire.

PA’s have prescriptive authority and can obtain registration through the DEA as well, allowing them to write certain controlled substances.

Along with the ability to prescribe medications, PA’s can order and interpret lab tests, make referrals for patients to see specialists if needed, and order physical therapy and home health services for their patients. They’re also able to order imaging studies such as mammograms, X-Rays, CT scans, PET scans, DEXA scans, MRI’s, etc.

As you can tell, there is a lot of overlap between these two professions. Both are valuable and much needed within the medical field. With that in mind, it’s important to know you can choose a PA as your healthcare provider and still receive the same quality of care you would from an MD/DO. Just like physicians, PA’s care about all aspects of a patient’s health and strive to provide them with the utmost care. So why not consider a PA as your primary provider today?