Medical CareersNICOLE SCHNEIDER, MSPAS, PA-C

OCTOBER 28, 2015

A short list of medical careers

▪ Physician (doctor)

▪ Physician Assistant

▪ Nurse Practitioner

▪ Registered Nurse

▪ Nurse’s Aide (CNA)

▪ Ultrasound Technician

▪ X-Ray Technician

▪ Emergency Medical Technician

▪ Paramedic

• Respiratory Therapist

• Physical Therapist

• Occupational Therapist

• Surgical Tech• Phlebotomist

More Choices…

▪ Family Practice

▪ Internal Medicine

▪ Pediatrics

▪ Obstetrics/Gynecology

▪ Neurology

▪ Cardiology

▪ ENT

▪ Pulmonology

▪ Gastroenterology

• Urology• Nephrology• Dermatology• Endocrinology• Psychiatry• Surgery (General, Orthopedic,

Vascular, Cardiothoracic, Pediatric)

• Oncology • Hematology• Emergency Medicine

Physician Assistants

▪ The profession was started in 1965 at Duke University by Dr. Eugene Stead

▪ Dr. Stead recognized the skills that Vietnam War veterans obtained as medics on the battlefield and the need for primary care providers in the USA.

▪ 4 Navy Corpsmen were the first PA graduates

▪ Since 1965, over 200 programs have been created in the US, totaling to more than 100,000 licensed PAs in the country.

▪ Forbes Magazine ranked MSPAS as the #1 Masters’ degree in 2014

What can a PA do?

▪ The PA profession is designed to work in collaboration with a physician to provide medical care.

▪ All PAs have a supervising physician▪ The supervising physician does not have to be in the same

building as the PA

▪ PAs can see patients, order tests, diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medications, and assist in surgery.

▪ Work in all types of settings- hospitals, outpatient offices, nursing homes, emergency rooms

▪ PAs are not certified to perform surgery on their own or open their own practice.

Path to becoming a PA

▪ There are 2 paths to becoming a PA

▪ 1. Attend a university which offers guaranteed admission into the PA program following obtaining a Bachelors’ degree. ▪ Ex: Quinnipiac (6 year program)▪ Ex: DeSales (5 year program) ▪ Must maintain a certain GPA to maintain seat in PA program (but no GRE!)

▪ 2. After completing a Bachelors’ degree, then apply to PA schools. ▪ Ex: Yale▪ Must take GRE (Graduate Record Exam) before applying▪ Programs vary in length from 24-36 months

▪ Both require prerequisite courses such as Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, Statistics, and Anatomy

▪ Programs are often set up as one year of classroom learning and one year of clinical rotations

Clinical Rotations

▪ Required for certification as a PA

▪ Must include Family Practice, Psychiatry, OB/GYN, Surgery, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, and Emergency Medicine

▪ There are often elective rotations as well

Nurse Practitioners (NP, APRN)

▪ Nurse practitioners complete additional education (Masters’ degree) beyond nursing school.

▪ Often 2 year programs

▪ Most programs are focused on a specialty- pediatrics, women’s health, acute care, psychiatry, family medicine etc.

▪ Can prescribe medication, order and interpret lab results, diagnose illnesses, and treat illnesses

▪ Can practice autonomously (on their own) or under the supervision of a physician.

▪ Can work in all of the same settings as a PA besides surgery

Physicians (M.D., D.O.)

▪ Must attend a 4 year Medical School followed by a residency in their chosen field.

▪ Both M.Ds and D.Os are licensed physicians.

▪ D.Os receive additional education in medical school about the muscles and bones (musculoskeletal system) and are taught about osteopathic manipulative treatment.

Physician Assistants and Insurance

▪ Some misconceptions about PAs are do not generate as much revenue and because of insurance rules, a PA can not see new patients.

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▪ “A practice employing a PA pays less in overhead costs for that PA compared to a physician, while having a healthcare provider on board who can provide most of the same services.” (https://www.aapa.org/employing-a-pa/#sthash.os7HkMV8.dpuf, 2015)

▪ PAs will generate 85% of what a doctor would generate▪ But, it is possible for a visit conducted by a PA to generate 100% of maximum revenue if a

physician sees the patient after the PA and writes a note

▪ PAs can see new patients▪ Will again only generate 85% of what a physician would generate

▪ But, every insurance plan is different and has different rules about PAs

What can I do now if I want to go into medicine?

▪ Get good grades in High School

▪ Can observe different jobs as a volunteer in the medical field▪ Check local hospitals and nursing homes websites▪ A good way you can see if you can be okay with blood, smells▪ Try to see surgeries and observe in the ER

▪ Ask medical professionals you meet about their jobs + education▪ Check out different medical professions’ websites

▪ Take a CPR/ First Aide class▪ Becoming a lifeguard is a great way to become CPR certified

▪ Look into EMT and CNA courses (must be 16 to be an EMT)

Some Medical Quotes

Medical Spanish

▪ Spanish

▪ Me llamo Nicole. Soy un estudiante con el/ la medico/a

▪ El/la asociado/a medico

▪ El/la enfermero/a

▪ Como te sientes?

▪ Donde esta tu dolor?

▪ Le puedo escuchar a los pulmones/ el corazon?

▪ Ahora, voy a examiner su estomago

▪ Habla ingles?

▪ Voy a llamar un interprete de espanol

▪ English

▪ My name is Nicole. I am a student with the doctor.

▪ Physician assistant

▪ Nurse

▪ How do you feel?

▪ Where is your pain?

▪ Can I listen to your lungs/ heart?

▪ Now, I am going to examine your stomach

▪ Do you speak English?

▪ I am going to call a Spanish interpreter

Works Cited

▪ Google Images

▪ http://directory.paeaonline.org/programs?utf8=%E2%9C%93&state=&degree=Masters&caspa=&gre=&health_xp=&bach_required=&min_gpa=&start_month=

▪ http://www.aanp.org/all-about-nps/what-is-an-np

▪ http://www.osteopathic.org/osteopathic-health/about-dos/what-is-a-do/Pages/default.aspx

▪ http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/education-careers/becoming-physician/frequently-asked-questions.page?

▪ https://www.aapa.org/what-is-a-pa/

▪ http://www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2015/04/22/physician-assistants-write-value-based-care-prescription/

▪ http://www.forbes.com/pictures/fjle45gfkg/no-1-best-masters-degree-for-jobs-physicians-assistant-studies/

▪ http://www.pahx.org/stead-jr-eugene