I am interested in pursuing the Physician Assistant (PA) degree because of my experiences both within the medical field and as a patient. These experiences have led me to believe that a team approach to patient-centered medicine provides the best and most comprehensive care possible. Further, the PA profession offers me the opportunity to continue my lifelong passion of helping others, giving back to my community, and provides me with further opportunities to teach.
Many people rush through their daily life without contemplating their actions, thereby missing vast opportunities for achievement. They waste valuable time engaging in frivolous matters instead of putting their energies towards more productive and meaningful purposes. In the words of the Dalai Lama: “Life is not about acquiring money and other facilities; it is about dedicating your life to helping others as much as you can.” The immeasurable value of helping others has been engrained in me since childhood. As a result of my own difficult family circumstances, I have become more sensitive, kind and mindful towards others and their own situations. I have developed a passion for helping others, which, in combination with a proclivity towards medicine has lead to my descion to become a Physician Assistant. I want to live a life where I can provide healthcare and aid to anyone who needs.
My decision to become a physician assistant (PA) was made earlier in my life as I wanted to graduate high school with an established career path. Suffering from frequent sinus infections in 2006, I often landed myself in the Emergency Departments Fast Track, which to my surprise was managed by PAs. At that time, PA was a newly evolving medical career that everyone around me was interested in. What attracted me was that it allowed students to study medicine in a flexible approach, where they were able to easily alternate specialties throughout their career. One could graduate PA school practicing general medicine, but later go on to study a different specialty. This enabled a PA to practice within many fields of medicine, allowing them to expand their knowledge and experiences every time. In order to explore the field further, I began volunteering at my local hospital in the Surgery Recovery Unit. It was here where I had my first-hand experience with PAs, as I was able to observe them at work
The physician assistant is a team player in the medical world, working daily with surgeons, physicians, therapists, and many other health care professionals. Similar to the job description of physicians, PAs see patients, take medical histories, preform physical exams, make diagnoses, order and interpret tests, and develop treatment plans (Ludwig). A physician assistant, nowadays, may even perform procedures that were once performed exclusively by physicians. Because every PA must have a supervising physician who oversees their work, it is assumed by many that PAs are “assistants to doctors”, however, that is not the case because a vast majority of PAs work independently. The extent of supervision by a physician varies depending on location and branch of medicine. Although, a physician assistant may carry out much of the same roles as a physician would, the amount of schooling required to become a PA is nearly half as many as that of a physician. Physician assistant programs nationwide require an undergraduate degree in one of many sciences, such as biology, and certain
Although I had always considered medicine a potential career from hearing my mother’s frequent inspirational recounts as a dentist, it was my volunteer work that awakened my sense of responsibility to the world and my desire to help patients heal. As a volunteer at the UCSF Medical Center, I dashed through corridors with a patient rushing to find his wife in the maternity ward, minutes before she delivered. Witnessing the newborn with the family was a heartening experience, and fostering trust with patients at UCSF Medical has enriched my life immeasurably. Such interactions enhanced my ability to build strong interpersonal bonds, and I was awarded the HEARTS Award from UCSF for exemplary patient care. The hospital became my second home and I realized that I might enjoy working in a health care setting.
"Paging PA Thornton", the intercom bellowed. A physician assistant is always on the job 24/7. Physician assistants are mid-level health care providers that do their services under a physician's supervision. They can do things like preform a surgery, prescribe medicine, and many other tasks like a doctor. This job is a good choice for people who like working in medicine and are better working in a team rather than be a leader. This job is also for people who like learning and using critical thinking to their advantage. Doctors like them because they help work with them or work where they can't be. That is why there is such a growing demand for physician assistants because doctors need them. Some people believe they are like a nurse but with a different name, but that is a big misconception. They have the same education as a doctor and can perform tasks just like a doctor. Nurses do not do surgeries, prescribe medicine, or have the same education. They also must work
Is Medical Assisting a great job for me in the future world? Medical assisting is a job that you help people with. This job includes things like taking blood samples, giving shots, check-ups, etc. Any interests I have had within this career is that you help others, prescribe medicine if they are in need, being prompt and taking care of others. Related talents to this career that I have is enjoying helping people, experiencing blood, doing regular check-ups etc. I have selected medical assisting as a career because its easy/ great training in under a year, employment growth, and flexible schedule. I believe that being a medical assisting is the best career for me.
For this exam you must be eligible to take it before applying. The medical assistant must be graduated from or about to graduate from a medical assisting program who is accredited by the CAAHEP or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs. Or they could even be accredited by ABHES which stands for Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools. Those students who apply for the exam within 12 months of graduation are referred as recent graduates and should probably take the test soon after graduation because that is when the knowledge is still fresh and your practical skills are more active. Completing students may take the exam no more than 30 days before completing their formal education and practicum. The students who apply for the test 12 months after graduation are considered non-recent graduates. Then there is also the recertification exam for CMA AAMA that you have to already have passed and are taking again to recertify their credentials. Recertification of this exam
A physician assistant (PA) is a professional in the health field who practices medicine with physicians as well as other providers (1).
As for how medical assistants can interact with patient data, it’s recommended that you consult the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for their “meaningful use” requirements. In October 2012, CMS issued a guidance regarding eligible professionals under the meaningful use incentive program. This guidance includes the following statement with regard to medical assistants being allowed to enter data:
To become a physician’s assistant is my career goal. Medical missions also greatly interest me; to give help to those who often have no hope of receiving it, and that consequently opening a door to tell them the Gospel.
The healthcare field is a large organization filled with individuals that work towards the common goal of helping others. In the past several years’ health care organization have focused their attention in improving healthcare as a whole by focusing on factors such as access to primary care, control cost, increase efficiency and improve outcomes. A growing trend in trying to meet these challenges has been the use of physician assistants. According to Assistant, physician (PA). (n.d.). Retrieved September 30, 2015, from http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=8593 a physician assistant is a mid-level medical practitioner who works under the supervision of a licensed physician. Their education qualifies them to examine patients,
I am from a rural area, and my mother and aunt, both breast cancer survivors, have experienced the trials and tribulations of obtaining the necessary health care in close proximity to home. Physician assistants were such an integral part of their health care experience. I realized during that time I wanted to become a physician assistant and treat patients in a compassionate manner and to empathize with the confused and scared patient for them to feel safe and educated on available treatment
As I wait for a decision to be made regarding my status, I am constantly reminded of my pleasant interview experience at the FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. It is my pleasure to speak fondly of such an outstanding innovative institution, when my peers ask for updates in my life. Your school is my top choice for a number of reasons, especially due to the commitment of serving our community. The fact that this program not only talks about serving, but has taken measures which have proven beneficial, is admirable. I believe the current curriculum and vision of your school can make me the best physician I can be.
As a child, my dream was to be a doctor someday. I like how doctors heal those who are sick and I like seeing operations. But one fun fact is that I hate blood. Even on small bruises, I tend to get disgusted. But that dream only lasted in a short span of time. I get to know a profession called Accountant. At those times, I really liked numbers, I loved solving basic mathematical operations.