As an Orthopedic Physician Assistant you can enter the healthcare community as a high paid professional. Physician Assistant positions anywhere in healthcare are valuable members of the team and can expect to garner good salaries. While these professionals are performing their duties, they are also reducing the cost of healthcare and reducing the work load of doctors.
One of the reasons Orthopedic Physician Assistants are able to help reduce the cost of health care is that they attend to the ordinary needs of patients which leaves higher paid physicians to work with the more needy clients. This in turn reduces the time patients have to spend waiting to see this type of specialist. Since Physician Assistants earn less than a licensed doctor, the savings is passed throughout the healthcare system. The following will help you determine if this is a career that is right for you.
Duties of Orthopedic Physician Assistant
A requirement of the job of Physician Assistants is that they work under the supervision of a doctor. Their duties are to examine patients, order tests, diagnose conditions, communicate with the doctor in charge about the patient, and prescribe treatment as well as necessary medications. Due to the services provided by this specialty, they command a higher salary than some other professionals. The following are additional services provided by Orthopedic Physician Assistants.
Order tests such as ECGs, lab workups, x-rays and others
Diagnoses patient conditions through physical exams
Reviews patient medical histories, helps them understand treatment plans, and communicated effectively
Administers prescribed therapeutic procedures such as suturing wounds, management of infections, and immunizations
Assists during medical procedures such as surgeries
Helps in the supervision of technicians
Common Traits of Orthopedic Physician Assistants
Any Physician Assistant can expect to work in a high pressure environment where they may be expected to stand on their feet for long periods of time. There are even times they will have to lift on heavy patients who cannot move themselves around. Physical strength is a must and so is a strong mental countenance and endurance.
Nerves of steel is an exceptional quality for Orthopedic Physician Assistants because they will need to have steady hands while performing their duties. Shaky hands may give the appearance of incompetence, and that just will not do when caring for ill patients.
Orthopedic Physician Assistant Salary
$90,000 annually is what most Physician Assistants can expect to earn on a yearly basis. Sometimes sign on bonuses apply and others can expect performance bonuses as well which can be as much as $20,000. There are many other benefits when one is working in this healthcare field such as retirement benefits, vacation pay, malpractice insurance and others.
After five to ten years, Orthopedic Physician Assistants can expect to earn in the area of $150,000.
If this all sounds attractive to you, and you feel that you can meet the physical and mental challenges of such a position, you may want to run not walk to the nearest registration center and apply to an accredited program.
A career as an orthopedic physician assistant is an exciting one. Find out more here: Physician Assistant Salary