South Shore Orthopedic Associates employs physician extendors in an effort to provide timely and comprehensive orthopedic care for all of our patients. The physician assistant (PA) works closely with the physicians at South Shore Orthopedics and is well versed in the medical and philosophical expectations of all of the physicians in our practice. The following facts are provided to help you understand the PA's role. Please be assured that if you have further questions we are readily available to assist you.

What is a Physician Assistant (PA)?

PAs (Physician Assistants) are health care professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventative health care, assist in surgery, and write prescriptions.

How are PAs different from Physicians?

What a physician assistant does varies with training, experience, and state law. In addition, the scope of the PA's practice corresponds to the supervising physician's practice. In general, a physician assistant will see many of the same types of patients as the physician. The cases handled by the physicians are generally the more complicated medical cases or those cases which require care that is not a routine part of the PA's scope of work. Referral to the physician, or close consultation between the patient-PA-physician, is the norm for unusual or hard to manage cases. Physician assistants are taught to "know their limits" and refer patients to physicians as appropriate.

Physician assistants are educated in the "medical model"; in some schools they attend many of the same classes as medical students. Although the core content of the PA's education and the physician's education may be similar, the main difference is the amount of time spent in formal education. In addition to the time in school, physicians are required to perform an internship, and the majority also complete residency in a specialty. Physician assistants are not required to undertake an internship or residency.

A physician has complete responsibility for the care of the patient. PAs share that responsibility with the supervising physician.

How is a Physician Assistant Educated?

The average PA has a bachelor's degree and four and half years of health care experience prior to entering a PA program. PAs are trained in intensive medical education programs accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The average Master's in Science Program curriculum runs approximately 26 months. Because of the close working relationship that PAs have with physicians, PAs are educated in the medical model designed to complement physician training. Upon graduation, physician assistants take a national certification examination developed by the National Commission on Certification of PAs in conjunction with the National Board of Medical Examiners. Graduation from an accredited physician assistant program and passage of the national certification exam are required for state licensure.

What does the "C" in "PA-C" mean?

PA-C stands for Physician Assistant - Certified. The person who holds the title has met the defined course of study and has undergone testing by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). To maintain that "C" after "PA," a physician assistant must log 100 hours of continuing medical educations credits (CMEs) every 2 years and take the recertification exam every 6 years.

Where do PAs Practice?

They practice in the areas of primary care medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, OBGYN, and emergency medicine, as well as surgical subspecialties such as orthopedic surgery.

How are PAs valuable to the Orthopedic Surgeon?

PAs provide a vital service and role in patient care within today's health care system. The hallmark of this service is that PAs practice as part of a PA/Physician team. Physician assistants who practice in orthopedics are licensed health care professionals who practice medicine within the scope of practice of their supervising Orthopedic Surgeon. They see patients in the office and hospital, and they assist in surgery.

The PA's Orthopedic Mission Statement at South Shore

• To practice general orthopedic care under the supervision of the SSOA Orthopedic Surgeons.
• To see patients in the office and hospital, assist all of the surgeons with their surgeries, and provide post operative care and monitoring.
• To contribute to South Shore Orthopedic Associates by focussing on general wellness and sports conditioning not only to prevent future orthopedic injuries but also as a treatment.