PA autonomy

[baee]

Dear PA of the sdn,

To what degree of autonomy does a physician assistant get? Interms of working hours, vacations, supervisions by doctor, etc. Is it more like a 9-5 job in a coporate setting(in this case hospital/clinic) or it is more flexible than that? How much less flexible is a PA in non-rural areas?

Thank you very much and I appreciate it!!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[deleted6669]

really depends where you work and how much experience you have.
pa practice runs the gambit from a new grad working side by side with a physician and presenting every case and then the doc reexaming the pts to experienced pa's running clinics and emergency depts solo without a physician ever there and the only communication they ever have with a doc is a phone call or sit down meeting to discuss the practice a few times/yr. laws vary to state to state regarding how intensive or lax supervision(or in some states "sponsorship") must be.
pay and benefits vary widely. last yr the avg pa made around 86k, more in the specialties and less in primary care. hours, benefits, and retirement are variable as well just like with docs.in emergency medicine for example pa shifts tend to rotate around a 24 hr clock with day, swing, and night shifts and everyone working some of each every month.
in general the more "metropolitan" the location the more physicians present and the less utilization of pa's. the exception to this is in surgery where more pa's work in urban environments because that is where the large surgical teams and centers are.
the pa's with the best autonomy tend to work in rural, inner city, or health provider shortage areas.

 

[primadonna22274]

Hi E....I'm hijacking...going through PA forum withdrawal since the site's been down for days....
to the OP, yeah, what he said.
L.

really depends where you work and how much experience you have.
pa practice runs the gambit from a new grad working side by side with a physician and presenting every case and then the doc reexaming the pts to experienced pa's running clinics and emergency depts solo without a physician ever there and the only communication they ever have with a doc is a phone call or sit down meeting to discuss the practice a few times/yr. laws vary to state to state regarding how intensive or lax supervision(or in some states "sponsorship") must be.
pay and benefits vary widely. last yr the avg pa made around 86k, more in the specialties and less in primary care. hours, benefits, and retirement are variable as well just like with docs.in emergency medicine for example pa shifts tend to rotate around a 24 hr clock with day, swing, and night shifts and everyone working some of each every month.
in general the more "metropolitan" the location the more physicians present and the less utilization of pa's. the exception to this is in surgery where more pa's work in urban environments because that is where the large surgical teams and centers are.
the pa's with the best autonomy tend to work in rural, inner city, or health provider shortage areas.

 

[Chronic Student]

Absolutely variable.

 

[baee]

thank you emedpa!