Surgical Physician Assistant Job Description
Surgical physician assistants aid surgeons in the treatment and diagnosis of patients. They are formally trained in a range of diagnostic and therapeutic services, and perform these duties as directed by a supervising surgeon. According to U.S. News and World Report, 25 percent of physician assistants choose to specialize in surgery, but there is still a significant demand for surgical physician assistants. Further growth is expected in the field, which means there should be plenty of opportunities for qualified candidates.
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Duties
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A surgical physician assistant’s responsibilities are determined by the laws of the state in which they practice, and the supervising surgeon. They usually provide both preoperative and postoperative care to surgical patients, which may include taking medical histories, performing physical exams, ordering lab tests, prescribing medication and helping with surgical dressings. Surgical physician assistants also assist surgeons during major surgeries, often serving as first or second assistant during procedures.
Education
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Surgical physician assistants usually complete programs geared for physician assistants, which may be offered by allied health schools, medical schools, colleges and universities, community colleges or hospitals and usually require at least two years of full-time study. Students should select a program that is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant to ensure that the school meets standards within the field. Students may earn a master’s degree, a bachelor’s degree, an associate degree or a certificate, but according the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 80 percent of accredited programs for physician assistants terminated in a master’s degree in 2008. Programs for physician assistants usually include both classroom instruction and laboratory work, and students take courses in anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, clinical pharmacology, pathology, diagnosis and ethics. Those who wish to become surgical physician assistants also complete supervised clinical training in surgery.
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Licensure and Certification
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All states require surgical physician assistants to successfully complete the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam, which is offered by National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. In order to sit for the exam, candidates must have completed an accredited education program for physician assistants. After passing the test, surgical physician assistants may use the Physician Assistant-Certified designation. They must participate in continuing education courses and take a recertification exam every six years in order to maintain their certification.
Working Conditions
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Surgical physician assistants spend much of the day on their feet in operating rooms. They may also be required to do a significant amount of walking as well. Work schedules for surgical physician assistants vary, as they usually coincide with the schedule of the supervising surgeon. Surgical physician assistants may be required to work irregular hours; however, such as early mornings, nights and weekends, because they may be required to perform surgical rounds. In addition, they may serve on call shifts, which require them to come into work should an emergency arise.
Salary
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wages for physician assistants, including surgical physician assistants, were $81,230 as of May 2008. The highest 10 percent were paid more than $110,240, while the lowest 10 percent were paid less than $51,360. The middle 50 percent were paid between $68,210 and $97,070.
Employment Opportunities
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that employment for physician assistants, including surgical physician assistants, will increase by 39 percent between 2008 and 2018, which is a much faster rate than the average for all occupations. The rising costs of healthcare has led to the increased use of physician assistants by healthcare organizations because they are often the most cost-effective members of the surgical team. Opportunities will occur due to experienced surgical physician assistants retiring or leaving the field. Candidates who work in states that allow surgical physician assistants more practice responsibilities should enjoy the best prospects.
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References
- Photo Credit laparoscopic surgery image by Grzegorz Kwolek from Fotolia.com
