NATIONAL PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT WEEK

Every year from October 6-12, National Physician Assistant (PA) Week recognizes the PA profession. It is an opportunity to raise awareness and visibility of the profession. During the week, PAs are honored, and their role is publicized as a critical component in a wide variety of medical settings.

#PAWeek

There are over 110,000 PAs practicing in the US. today, about one-third of them in primary care and two-thirds in specialty care. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median US. salary for physician assistants is $108,610 per year or $52.22 per hour. The BLS predicts employment of physician assistants is projected to grow 31 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. It estimates about 37,000 openings for PA by 2028 because the demand for healthcare services is growing.

10 Physician Assistants Job Skills

Take or review patients’ medical histories
Examine patients
Order and interpret diagnostic tests, such as x rays or blood tests
Diagnose a patient’s injury or illness
Give treatment, such as setting broken bones and immunizing patients
Educate and counsel patients and their families
Prescribe medicine
Assess and record a patient’s progress
Research the latest treatments to ensure the quality of patient care
Conduct or participate in outreach programs, talking to groups about managing diseases and promoting wellness

HOW TO OBSERVE #PAWeek

During the week, look for public health events to highlight the role of physician assistants. Ask a physician assistant to speak at a student job fair. Learn more about the role of a physician assistant. Consider visiting a PA for your healthcare needs.

Use #paweek to follow the conversation on social media.