Can PA's do check ups/physicals?

[TheBiologist]

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So I was making an appointment for a physical at my school an I noticed that a lot of time slots had PA's as the person doing the check up, so can they?

 

[ciestar]

Yes

 

[Catalystik]

So I was making an appointment for a physical at my school an I noticed that a lot of time slots had PA's as the person doing the check up, so can they?

They can do far more than routine well care, including acute and chronic disease management, and emergency issues, depending on their training background.

 

[Spectar]

They can also do surgeries, deliver anesthesia, etc.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

They can also do surgeries, deliver anesthesia, etc.

No PAs “do surgeries” although yes they can do many procedures depending on the field they work in. They don’t ever do anesthesia unless they are AAs which is it’s own degree although it is essentially the PA equivalent of CRNAs, but they aren’t licensed in every state.

 

[Spectar]

No PAs “do surgeries” although yes they can do many procedures depending on the field they work in. They don’t ever do anesthesia unless they are AAs which is it’s own degree although it is essentially the PA equivalent of CRNAs, but they aren’t licensed in every state.

Actually, many PAs do surgeries. I'm not saying they do it alone. I'll give you an example; my brother is a plastic surgery PA who would often times do easy surgical procedures such as tummy tucks or implants while leaving the difficult ones for the surgeon. Of course he is "supervised."

You got me with the anesthesia part. Although anesthesia is considered a broad category so technically, they could deliver local anesthesia if they were a certain type of PA, also dependent on the state. So technically yes, they can "deliver" anesthesia. Here is a link clearly indicating they can administer local anesthesia in Ohio

 

[freedoctor17]

Actually, many PAs do surgeries. I'm not saying they do it alone. I'll give you an example; my brother is a plastic surgery PA who would often times do easy surgical procedures such as tummy tucks or implants while leaving the difficult ones for the surgeon. Of course he is "supervised."

You got me with the anesthesia part. Although anesthesia is considered a broad category so technically, they could deliver local anesthesia if they were a certain type of PA, also dependent on the state. So technically yes, they can "deliver" anesthesia. Here is a link clearly indicating they can administer local anesthesia in Ohio

Technically I can deliver anesthesia as well 😛

Edit: I deliver anesthesia to the mice we use in research, that's probably important to mention in hindsight

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

You got me with the anesthesia part. Although anesthesia is considered a broad category so technically, they could deliver local anesthesia if they were a certain type of PA, also dependent on the state. So technically yes, they can "deliver" anesthesia. Here is a link clearly indicating they can administer local anesthesia in Ohio

Local anesthesia can be something as simple as a small injection of lidocaine and is entirely different... PAs do not deliver anesthesia.

Actually, many PAs do surgeries. I'm not saying they do it alone. I'll give you an example; my brother is a plastic surgery PA who would often times do easy surgical procedures such as tummy tucks or implants while leaving the difficult ones for the surgeon. Of course he is "supervised."

PAs with CT surgeons do the saphenous vein extraction too but that doesn’t mean they “do surgery”.... they assist in surgery, and many of them do so very very well, but they are never the primary surgeon on a case.

 

[Spectar]

Local anesthesia can be something as simple as a small injection of lidocaine and is entirely different... PAs do not deliver anesthesia.

PAs with CT surgeons do the saphenous vein extraction too but that doesn’t mean they “do surgery”.... they assist in surgery, and many of them do so very very well, but they are never the primary surgeon on a case.

You really have to be more specific. Because PAs can administer local injections, this actually falls under "delivering" anesthesia.

You just gave me one example of PAs who don't do surgeries fully, but I gave you an example of a PA who does a surgery from start to finish.

Regardless, this is getting off topic. To OP, PAs are versatile, and can do a lot of what physicians do.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

You really have to be more specific. Because PAs can administer local injections, this actually falls under "delivering" anesthesia.

You just gave me one example of PAs who don't do surgeries fully, but I gave you an example of a PA who does a surgery from start to finish.

Regardless, this is getting off topic. To OP, PAs are versatile, and can do a lot of what physicians do.

I am skeptical that your brother actually does a whole tummy tuck or implant case from open to close without the surgeon doing any part of the case or being in the room.

 

[RTC19]

So I was making an appointment for a physical at my school an I noticed that a lot of time slots had PA's as the person doing the check up, so can they?

They can indeed.

In my experience, it seems like school health clinics are a bit more liberal with PAs doing check-ups than other primary care clinics because their population is generally so young and healthy.