Career Project By: Tiffany Miller

Description: Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician, conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for Physician Assistants.

Description: Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.

Physician AssistantMedical Assistant  Examine patients to obtain information about their physical condition.  Obtain, compile and record patient medical data, including health history, progress notes and results of physical examination.  Interpret diagnostic test results for deviations from normal.  Make tentative diagnoses and decisions about management and treatment of patients.  Prescribe therapy or medication with physician approval.  Authorize drug refills and provide prescription information to pharmacies.  Change dressing on wounds.  Perform general office duties.  Perform routine laboratory tests and sample analyses.  Record patients’ medical history, vital statistics, or information such as test results in medical records.  Schedule appointments for patients.  Show patients to examination rooms and prepare them for the physician.

Physician Assistant Physician assistants work in physicians’ offices, hospitals, and other healthcare settings. Most work full time. Medical Assistant Medical assistants work in well-lighted, clean environments. They constantly interact with other people and may have to handle several responsibilities at once.

Physician Assistant Training  Two years of college and some health care experience.  Supervising  Managing the activities of others to accomplish goals.  Communication skills  Bachelor’s degree is the minimum formal education required.  Knowledge Qualifications  Desire to serve patients and be self motivated.  Good bedside manner  Emotional stability  Ability to make decisions in emergencies  Willing to study throughout their career to keep up with medical advances Advancement Opportunities  Surgery  Neonatology  Emergency medicine  Internal medicine  Rural primary care  Pediatrics  Occupational medicine

Training  High School Diploma  No formal education requirements  Knowledge  Analytical Skills  Detail oriented  Interpersonal skills  Technical skills Medical Assistant Qualification s  Serving patients  Computer skills  Ability to make decisions during emergencies.  Common interaction with both doctors and patients.  Medical Terminology Advancement Opportunities  CMA (Certified Medical Assistant)  RMA (Registered Medical Assistant)  Nursing  Office manager

Physician Assistant $43,100-$102,230 Medical Assistant $25,304 - $35,862

Eastern Michigan University This is the college I will be going to after I get my associates degree. They just recently added a PA program and it sounds perfect for what I want to do. Alpena community college This is the college I will be going to, to get my associates degree in medical assisting. It is close to home and I can work and go to college.

Most physician assistants have a bachelor’s degree. Then, they must complete an accredited educational program for physician assistants. That usually takes at least 2 years of full-time study and typically leads to a master’s degree. All states require physician assistants be licensed. Most employers prefer graduates of formal programs in medical assisting. Post-secondary programs usually last either one year, resulting in a certificate or diploma, or two years, resulting in an associate degree.

Physician Assistant $66,310: This is about how much it will cost to get a masters degree to become a PA. Medical Assistant $10,000: This is about how much it will cost to get an Associates degree in Medical Assisting.

 They are both in the health field.  Their job growths are both charted to grow about 30% in the next 7 years.  Work in primary care settings.  They both deal with patients.  They work together.

Medical Assistant  No formal training or education required.  Job duties do not involve practicing medication.  Median Annual salary is around $29,000. Physician Assistant  Bachelors Degree required at the least.  a physician assistant is licensed to practice medicine under the direction of physicians and surgeons.  Median Annual salary is around $87,000.

The career I would prefer would be a medical assistant. Even though you can make way more money being a physician assistant, it is a lot of work, and I like my sleep. I have been working at the doctors office as a medical assistant for almost two years for my work site, and I love it! I am never bored and I know I wouldn’t hate my job. I can see my self going to work 5 days a week, getting holidays off and weekends. It is really my dream job.

Careers. n.p Web. 19 Nov UT South Western. The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Web. 19 Nov Bureau of Labor Statistics. Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections, 29 Mar Web. 19 Nov Career One Stop. n.p Web. 19 Nov

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