<p>It sounds like besides the big difference in schooling they can do many of the same things. Anyone know the major differences? Thanks:) Its one of the careers im looking at!</p>
<p>The major differences would be salary, training, and duties</p>
<p>do you know any specific duties?</p>
<p>i have been doing research myself, consulting many websites including this one. but most of the websites i have visited were pretty vague. none actually stated: a physician can do this a pa can't. i'll keep searching to see if i can find more.</p>
<p>pa's cant do surgery. Thats pretty much it if u ask me...many of the PA's handle the ER that my EMS works with, they prescribe meds just like docs, treat, do basically all the same stuff. I just dont think they can go into surgery.</p>
<p>Salary will vary too. I believe a PA has two less years of school then a doctor too, dont quote me on that though</p>
<p>PA rules and regs vary from state to state, but they must work under the auspices (usually direct supervision) of a licensed physician. They are able in many places to write Rxs for non-controlled meds (no narcotics, etc.).
Their patient interaction is broad and can include the work up of routine illnesses and the performance of minor procedures (eg., suturing). They are also very helpful in monitoring pts with chronic illness who are on long term treatment protocols. In addition, they often make hospital rounds for their MDs, though in theory these pts should always get closer supervision by the physician.
Their education is, relatively speaking, much abbreviated, not only in terms of post secondary education but in terms of post grad training.
Income is rising for PAs & NPs and now probably averages $75,000, or about half what an avg MD makes.
I believe in the future we will see more PAs & NPs around and that their ability to function independently will grow. Whether this represents a good thing for the public or not is another matter entirely.</p>
<p>My parents are both MDs- from what i can make out I would listen to to PSerishMD. That is just about what I heard. I think the nurse practitioners usually do the "dirty" work. Thats pretty much all i have on the subject.</p>
<p>Have you looked at the DOL website for a description?
<a href="http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos081.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos081.htm</a></p>
<p>Professional schools in California that has a Physician Assistant program include:</p>
<p>Charles R. Drew University of Medicine & Science
Los Angeles, CA 90059-3025
<a href="http://www.cdrewu.edu/coah2002/academic/bachelor/pa.asp%5B/url%5D">http://www.cdrewu.edu/coah2002/academic/bachelor/pa.asp</a> </p>
<p>Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, California 92350
<a href="http://www.llu.edu/llu/sahp/pa/%5B/url%5D">http://www.llu.edu/llu/sahp/pa/</a> </p>
<p>Samuel Merritt College
Oakland, CA 94609-3108
<a href="http://www.samuelmerritt.edu/default.cfm%5B/url%5D">http://www.samuelmerritt.edu/default.cfm</a> </p>
<p>Stanford University
<a href="http://pcap.stanford.edu/prog_pa.html%5B/url%5D">http://pcap.stanford.edu/prog_pa.html</a> </p>
<p>Touro University
Vallejo, CA 94592
<a href="http://www.tumi.edu/cohs.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.tumi.edu/cohs.html</a> </p>
<p>UC Davis
<a href="http://fnppa.ucdavis.edu/%5B/url%5D">http://fnppa.ucdavis.edu/</a> </p>
<p>USC - not at the main campus
Alhambra, CA 91803
<a href="http://www.usc.edu/schools/medicine/departments/physician_assistant/%5B/url%5D">http://www.usc.edu/schools/medicine/departments/physician_assistant/</a> </p>
<p>Western University of Health Sciences
Pomona, CA 91766-1854
<a href="http://www.westernu.edu/xp/edu/cahp/mspas_about.xml%5B/url%5D">http://www.westernu.edu/xp/edu/cahp/mspas_about.xml</a></p>
<p>thanks guys :)</p>
<p>Here is a site that has a description for Physician Assistant as well as other career choices...</p>
<p><a href="http://www.CaliforniaColleges.edu%5B/url%5D">http://www.CaliforniaColleges.edu</a></p>
<p>Physician Assistant description
<a href="http://www.californiacolleges.edu/career/career_detail.asp?c=29%2D1071%2E00&pr=%2Fcareer%2Fcareer%5Flist%2Easp?o=2%2EC%2E5%5B/url%5D">http://www.californiacolleges.edu/career/career_detail.asp?c=29%2D1071%2E00&pr=%2Fcareer%2Fcareer%5Flist%2Easp?o=2%2EC%2E5</a></p>
<p>whys that calcolleges website say that podiatrists need a bachelors degree only? it says weird stuff like that on all the descriptions...</p>
<p>Here are some other sites that discuss the requirements to be a licensed podiatrist...</p>
<p><a href="http://www.op.nysed.gov/podlic.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.op.nysed.gov/podlic.htm</a>
<a href="http://www.podiatrychannel.com/aPodiatrist.shtml%5B/url%5D">http://www.podiatrychannel.com/aPodiatrist.shtml</a>
<a href="http://www.tju.edu/hcg/hcg-jobs/2b-jbrief99p107.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.tju.edu/hcg/hcg-jobs/2b-jbrief99p107.htm</a>
<a href="http://www.bme.state.or.us/podiatry.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.bme.state.or.us/podiatry.html</a></p>