The Limitations Of A Physician Assistant

By Allyson Brookman

A physician assistant’s responsibilities rely on how he was trained, his overall experience and the laws of the state in which he practices. Basically, a physician assistant main function is to assist the physician. So, it could be said that the physician assistant works with the simple processes and the physician tackles the more serious cases. But, professional physician assistants are growing more in number everyday. Many doctors allow their PAs to treat patients independently. Also, the individual states are assigning more job duties to physician assistants. Physician assistants that practice in surgical processes can also conduct medical procedures on their own. As the physician assistant becomes more skillful, the physician will rely on his skills more. It gets to the point where it is a thin line between what a physician assistant can and cannot do. So, how do you know what is okay for a physician to do and not to do?

The job responsibilities of a physician assistant are based upon others. This means that he has to always work under the supervision of a licensed doctor. A licensed doctor is responsible for the medical actions of his physician assistant. He therefore allots him normal work based on his training and experience. A physician assistant has various job function, which include some of the following:

Evaluate patients A physician assistant can go through a patient’s medical history, ask him questions, conduct a physical examination, create a report and present it to the doctor.

Monitor patients: Watch patients A physician assistant has the ability to initiate patient monitoring plans, treat patients in both hospitals and other healthcare facilities. He can also help the doctor in his hospital rounds, and record the patient’s progress.

Analyzing patients: He can conduct and analyze lab, cardio, radiology and other procedural results.

Perform therapeutics: Physician assistants can conduct injections and immunizations. They have the training to sew up injuries and handle medical conditions that were the result of distress or infections. They have the training to aid the doctor while he takes care of serious conditions. They have the ability to administer and withdraw blood during a DUI/DWI case.

Counsel patients: PAs can direct patients to stick to their prescribed treatment plans. They also have the ability to give patients information about basic health, emotional problems and healthy guidelines.

Transfer patients: Physician assistants have the authority to move patients to other healthcare practitioners and social organizations if they think it is beneficial for the patient.

What a physician is not allowed to do:

Physician assistants are not allowed to do other specialized requests for professions such as optometry or radiologic technology. They are not allowed to sign the death certificate, but they can create the death declaration.

How the law limits the physician assistant’s scope of practice:

The reach of a physician assistant’s practice is just an idea basically. Even the theory is not clear because it states that these services are a part of the physician’s range of practice. Take for instance the way that a particular North Carolina law places limitations on a physician assistant’s scope of practice. Other states may end up doing the same thing. Before we get into what a PA can or cannot do, you must know that no PA can perform any healthcare duty if his license is inactive or not current. So, these are the restrictions:

Whenever a physician assistant prescribes medication, it has to list his state issued id number on it. The PA’s doctor must give him written instructions about indications and contraindications about prescribing drugs. If the physician assistant does not get this information in writing, then he does not have the authority to initiate the drug prescription. The doctor also has to provide his physician assistant written guidelines for drug prescriptions. If the doctor does not give this to his PA, then the PA cannot write up the prescription. If he issues the prescription without it, then this is against the law. The state may also issue more limitations on the PA’s drug prescription powers. So, each physician assistant must study state laws before they write a drug prescription.

It is fine for physician assistants to prescribe drugs if it is done under the direct supervision of a licensed physician and within the guidelines that have been issued by the state.

A physician assistant has the authority to request hospital tests and medications if this physician has provided written instructions on how to do such things. If the case is complex then the order written by the PA must be reviewed by the physician within a reasonable time frame as specified by the state. The hospital, healthcare facility or doctor’s office that will provide treatment should have written rules set in place that state that physician assistant orders should be verified. They must ensure that these orders are in the interest of patient safety. The state too may prescribe specific restrictions on what kind of tests or treatments a PA can order.

Every physician assistant has to keep his license up to date, be registered with the state, and possess an up to date Intent of Practice on file with the state.

Now, as you can see, a PA can perform all the duties that lie within his scope of practice. This is only acceptable if it is approved by his supervising doctor and follows the state’s rules. What a physician assistant can and cannot do is based upon the following:

(a) The laws of the state

(b) The range of the physician assistant’s functions described overall and by the state

(c) His physician authorizes this actions and it is okay with the state.

Also, the physician assistant has orders that have to be verified via the checks and balances system that are put into place by various healthcare locations. Basically, this explains the things that physician assistants are allowed to do.

For more information about the limitations of a physician assistant, please visit: Physician Assistant Salary

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Topics: Medical | Comments Off

Tags: advice, assistant, career, doctor, Duty, education, employment, job, Limitation, Medical, Physician, Physician Assistant, responsibility, scope

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