The Roles Of Medical Assistant And Physician Assistant In Healthcare

The healthcare industry is very favorable. Based on the latest report of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the industry has created approximately 14.3 million jobs. They also projected that the healthcare industry will generate over 3.2 million different jobs between 2008 and 2018 because of the rapidly growing population of the elderly.

Two of the most popular health related career choices among job seekers are medical assistant and physician assistant. Both are holding important roles in providing health services to the ill and those who need health support. Then again, many are still clueless which one is which. As not to be mistaken over again, we will discuss the two careers individually.

Overview Of Medical Assistants
Not like nurses and doctors wherein one can truly tell their differences and importance in the healthcare area, medical assistants can be difficult to tell. Medical assistants or MAs are responsible in keeping clinics and medical departments in order. Their roles can vary depending on the institutions they are employed in. Cited below are some of the basic taks of medical assistants:

Administrative Roles
Statistically, 62 percent of medical assistants are working in private clinics. Either trainings are given on the job or they acquire the skills by fast paced or conventional medical assisting programs. During training medical assistants are taught to handle calls, patient’s medical records, coordinate hospital admissions and laboratory schedules and accounting. These duties are just some of the administrative roles that medical assistants are playing.

Clinical Roles
Duties in the clinical area are dependent on the law provided by the state. These skills are trained as well during schooling. Some of the common clinical responsibilities of MAs are vital signs taking, collecting and preparing specimens, disposing of used and infected supplies, basic laboratory testing and assisting doctor or medical doctor during medical check-up. In small and private clinics, doctors can instruct the medical assistant to prepare and administer medications, change dressings, give phone prescriptions and monitor ECGs.

Special Areas Responsibilities
Comparable to any healthcare careers, medical assistants can also work in special areas like pediatrics, optometry and opthalmic where they are fortunate to grow professionally. In these areas, it is defining for MAs to be trained how to multitask because there are instances where they must carryout several duties all at the same time.

Overview Of Physician Assistant

Physician Assistants are also fundamental players in the healthcare industry. They are practicing medicine under the direct custody of another physician. PAs are legitimate to practice according to the bystandards provided by the administration.

Unlike medical assistants, PAs have more clinical responsibilities. Their roles and scope of practice depends on their medical experience, expertise and the governing law. Also, the supervising physician’s gamut of practice can influence the work of PAs. Having that said, they will be seeing the same cases of patients. If the supervising physician is under oncology, then the PA will be practicing in the same department as well.

Following are some of the common duties of PAs. PAs are responsible in taking assessment, diagnosing and treating of medical illnesses, analyzing and interpreting tests and procedures given to patients, surgery assisting, patient analysis and giving prescriptions. Besides clinical duties, PAs can also practice in line with research, education and administrative.

Medical assistants and physician assistants are two different entities. It is important to differentiate the two. In spite of this, be reminded that both are functional in healthcare. They both deserve to be given respect because by the same token they are doing what their job entails.

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