Time feels accelerated when I see my grandparents as though I am seeing them in a time-lapsed movie. Aside from the additional wrinkles, slower movement, and frailty that comes with aging, observing them, I have come to realize that life is short, perhaps too short. They have lived in my house throughout my life, and being close with them from a young age has given way to listening to many important life lessons, sometimes wanting to listen willfully and other times forcing myself to do so. One thing I have come to understand is that the advice and experiences of one’s elders serves an important function, to impart wisdom. They recommended to me to pursue my passions, so during my college career, I became involved in the Pre-health Professions …show more content…
Throughout college, I shadowed many physician assistants and physicians and found that physician assistants have the flexibility to rotate across specialties. Since I was young, I always wanted to be a medical doctor. I would listen to my dad speak about his career, and he was always so animated when he spoke about his patients and the relationships he developed over the years. I would want that connection with my patients. However, the medical field is changing drastically, and I do not feel that doctors are able to develop these relationships as liberally. Societally, we no longer foster that type of relationship between physicians and patients. Throughout my junior year, senior year, and presently, I have worked as a medical assistant and worked directly with PAs and physicians and feel that I will be able to better develop that long-term relationship with patients better as a PA. After making rounds with several PAs, I have become more and more enthusiastic about the PA profession and impressed with the scope of responsibilities given to PAs and their ability to work autonomously with patients and collaboratively with physicians within a healthcare team. The flexibility to be able to move among specialties and the profession’s dynamic nature that commands growth and continuing education to succeed excites …show more content…
Recently, I started volunteering at a local geriatric facility which is part of Peconic Bay Medical Center. I used to do this while in high school, and I forgot how much I thoroughly enjoyed it. The geriatric patients are so grateful to have you there whether it’s listening to a story about their grandchildren, playing cards to entertain them, or telling them a funny joke. I have not seen more appreciation from any patients that I have encountered than from them. When I help those that cannot help themselves, I am buoyed by a sense of purpose unmatched in my other life pursuits. Becoming a PA is challenging and rewarding and will allow me to work both independently and as part of a team. Although the path ahead will be demanding and challenging, I relish those opportunities because I have become intimate with the profession, undertaken a rigorous academic set of courses and witnessed first-hand how a word can change a life. I think about my grandpa who has recently been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, and I wonder will there be anyone in the medical field who will be able to spend their time with him, to listen to his stories of his grandkids, to tell him a joke and make him laugh? The answer is yes. The
It is the most influential source of insight for PA’s practicing in MI. Its purpose is to “encourage its members to abide by the AAPA code of ethical conduct”, “serve as a public information center with respect to its members, health professions, governments agencies, and the general public”, and “ represent its members in matters of legislation in order to maintain and further develop the practice of the profession” 2. Since the mid 1970s, MAPA has been an important advocator for its members and has not only worked on the improvement of working environments for physician assistants but is also involved in politicizing for enhancements in the scope of practice as well as raising a voice on actions that may impose a threat on the Physician Assistant occupation. At the turn of the century, the ‘Barriers to PA Practice’ list was created by MAPA in order to “overturn all of the antiquated laws disallowing PAs to practice in aspects of care or allowing negative interpretation by administrators of health plans and State agencies” 3. Since this list was created, many new public acts have been passed allowing physician assistants in Michigan to gain more independence. Some important advancements that occurred during this time included MAPA’s involvement in overturning office supervision guidelines insurances such as Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan imposed on physician assistants as well as overturning the insurances refusal to pay surgical PAs, Public Act 281 which allowed referrals from physician assistant to a physical therapist, and Public Acts 124-126 which approved Physician Assistants to be added to a “list of professionals able to form professional corporations (PC) and professional limited liability corporations (PLLC) and clarifies that physicians and
What is a Physician Assistant? As a relatively new field of practice, this answer is often asked. Physician Assistants are also known as PAs. They practice medicine on a team all under the supervision of a doctor. The name is largely a misnomer as physician assistants are much more than mere “assistants”.
I admire the mission statement of the PAS program, as I am a firm believer in providing excellent care to all populations. A Physician Assistant, as well as any other medical professional, should provide compassionate care to those needing it, despite their financial status, race, disabilities, and more. As a future PA, I want to advocate for all populations and let their voices be heard, inside and outside of the walls of medicine. One reason I am compassionate about advocating for my patients is because I understand what it is like to be in their shoes.
Physician assistants, functioning as individuals from doctor coordinated groups, now take
A physician 's assistant is highly respected in the healthcare field. You can have a career in 6-8 years as opposed to a doctor ' s. Moreover, Physician assistants have been named one of the fastest growing professions in the U.S by the Bureau of Labor & Statistics with an expected 30% increase in jobs by 2020. There is an opportunity for advancement in the field of Physician Assistant and experienced physician assistants will be given more responsibilities and earn higher salaries.
PAs have various challenging responsibilities that are performed daily. Physician assistants require immense years of education, perform numerous responsibilities, and receive multiple benefits. The journey to becoming a PA begins the moment when someone enters high school. During high school, it is important to take as many science and math
The level of care that the varying healthcare professionals provided to these patients was fascinating and became intrigued to a career path in the medical field. Over the next couple of years, I narrowed the possibility
I want to become a Medical Assistant because I enjoy helping others, and making them feel better. Medical Assistant is not just a career for me, it’s a goal that I will achieve with much pride and honor, and prove wrong those people who keep telling me that I’m not going to make it. I’m not really good in science, but I’m going to push myself to try hard to achieve my goal. Don’t ever let anyone label you, be your own kind of person and make the “impossible” possible. I know that it’s not going to be easy because of all the things you have to learn and memorize to become a Medical Assistant.
The physician assistant occupation truly began in 1965 when a considerable shortage of physicians brought forth a breakthrough. At this time there were also many corpsmen returning from the Vietnam War with adequate skills to access surgical conditions but without the formal education. A man by the name of Dr. Eugene Stead then created a program at Duke University to give these people formal training and education. By the time they finished their two-year fast-tracked program these individuals would be equipped to provide medical care to underserved populations and rural communities under the direction of a physician.
Why choose the medical assisting field? The medical assisting field has several different branches to satisfy different preferences and skill levels. You will have different tasks depending on which type of medical assistant you choose to be. This gives you the chance to assess yourself and figure out what skills you already possess, and also what skills you may need to work on to be the best medical assistant you can be. The medical assisting field has three main branches.
Through my studies of human expression and its reflection of how people deal with world events in different ways, I developed sensitivity to other worldviews that continues to prove useful through my daily interactions with people of different backgrounds. I have learned that just like art, medicine involves pattern recognition and derives insight from experiences. Similarly, what I especially enjoy about being a medical assistant is interacting with patients on a daily basis and getting to be a part of their medical experiences, even if it is just by lending an ear. The experiences on my path to a career in medicine have made me want to make a real, tangible difference in the lives of those around me – a difference that leaves my patients in a better condition than they were in before I met them.
The Physician Assistant (PA) is an essential component of a medical staff. Their duties include, Examining and treating patients, ordering and interpreting diagnostics, educating patients, and promoting overall health and wellness (“Physicians Assistants”. (2015, December 17). Retrieved May 26, 2016, from http://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm). Physician Assistants work in many different areas of medicine under the direct supervision of a primary care physician.
The top physician assistant specialties that currently spark my interest are the pediatric practice, the surgical practice and the emergency department. I have previously shadowed all three fields in my pervious journey to obtaining my Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) licenses. The fields interested me because of the work required and the environments they worked in. However, any field would be fine with me as long as their primary mission is focused on the bettering of patient’s health.
After researching and thoroughly exploring the profession of physician assistant, I would still seriously consider becoming one. Even though there is little room for advancement beyond straying onto another career path, it seems like a very secure, appropriately salaried, interesting, and rewarding position in the medical field. Works
Volunteering at a hospice company was a turning point in my life. I find the United States is still segregated by age. I never truly understood that ageism existed, I assumed it was a thing of the past or only happened in extremely rare cases. This is my second year volunteering to help talk to patients, and my first year writing someone’s life story, her legacy. Most young people never get a chance to interact with the elderly, and are separated because of the fast paced society we have built around those 18-30 years olds.