A Physician Assistant otherwise known as a PA is a trained mid-level healthcare provider who works under the supervision of a licensed medical doctor. In other words, the term Physician Assistant can be defined precisely as a mid-level practitioner who is able to practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician.
The career of a physician assistant is a lucrative one and it is understandable for anyone to want to become a PA. However, for that to become reality, a lot of training and work has to be put in. In Delaware, there are several schools where you can teach yourself to become a physician assistant. Here are some of the best PA schools in Delaware.
1. George Delaware University
George Delaware University is one of the top schools with PA programs in Delaware DC. The school over the years has provided thorough training for students pursuing careers as Physician Assistants.
GW’s PA program has been nationally ranked as the number five PA program in the United States by US News. This recognition is the result of the outstanding curriculum and unique community service that introduces students to health care and social services in the Delaware DC metropolitan area. The University provides one of the most rigorous PA programs in Delaware for students and the program usually lasts between 2 to 3 years.
At the end of the training, the student will have experience in the following areas; inpatient medicine, ambulatory care medicine, surgery, pediatrics, women’s health, emergency medicine, behavioral medicine, and an elective that integrates all previous academic, and clinical training.
2. Howard University
Howard University provides one of the best PA programs in Delaware. The Howard University Physician Assistant Department is committed to meeting the needs of underserved populations. Particular emphasis is placed on the University’s achievements in providing educational opportunities for African American students.
The program also places emphasis on wellness promotion and disease prevention for the individual patient and the community. The Physician Assistant Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.
Pursuing a career as a physician assistant is a very demanding but lucrative one. You’ll get to spend so much time in school completing your training. It takes about 6 years without healthcare training while it takes 9 years plus with a healthcare training.
Duties of a Physician Assistant
Knowing in particular what a PA does is essential before starting on the journey to becoming one. The duties of a physician assistant depend on the specialty that one decides. A PA who works under the supervision of a pediatrician will likely bend toward the duties of a pediatrician.
However, on a general note, Physician Assistants perform the following functions.
Recording of medical histories and physical examinations of patients: A physician assistant is tasked with the responsibility of recording the medical histories of patients and also recording their vital signs. Vital signs are quite very simple to check. Every good physician assistant should be able to do it.
Conducting basic laboratory tests: An average PA should be able to perform simple basic laboratory tests like pregnancy tests. In addition, he or she may have other tests they are competent in. They should be able to assist in carrying out these tests, interpret them to the patients, and provide the appropriate treatment.
Patients’ Follow-up: Part of what physician assistants do is follow up with the patients through the course of their treatment in the clinic to ensure strict adherence to treatment plans and recommended regimens.
How Long Does it Take to Become a PA?
To become a certified physician assistant, one needs to complete something around 8 years of training. The 8 years here are spent learning various skills that are required to fully become a PA. Firstly, one must earn a bachelor’s degree, which takes roughly four years to complete. This means that you must have also completed your high school education with relatively good grades. The bachelor’s degree that you must have could be in any course at all provided it is related to the medical profession.
Acquiring a bachelor’s degree alone does not qualify you to become a Physician Assistant. You’ll need to get health training which will further widen your knowledge of health care. The health care training could be in the area of paramedics or any other medical-related course. Usually, this training takes about three years to complete.
After you have completed the health care training, the next thing will be to acquire a master’s degree. The master’s program does not take so much time to complete. On average, it will cost you about two years to complete a master’s degree program which leads to a career as a Physician Assistant.
One more thing will be left for you to do after your master’s degree. That is sitting for the Accreditation test. Only those who graduate from the ARC-PA program (the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant) can qualify to write this test. One can attempt this test up to 6 times in a span of 6 years after which he will need to wait for some time before trying again.
In addition, a person who has completed all the rigors and has been licensed to practice as a physician assistant will still need to take council exams periodically to maintain their licensure.
Kickstart your PA Career
Becoming a physician assistant is one of the fastest-growing careers in the United States. There will always be demand for healthcare and you should ensure that you are motivated to become an aid to many patients who will come your way in the future. Yes, the pay of a physician assistant is lucrative. However, to complete the journey, it’ll need a lot of grit and passion. Showing passion will also be vital when doing interviews for a PA school. The roles of a PA are essential and getting a quality education is essential. Delaware is a fantastic place to kickstart your PA journey with fantastic schools offering great curriculums and guidance.