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ASSOCIATION OF PSYCHIATRIC PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS, INC |
| Welcome to the APPA web site. The Association of Psychiatric Physican Assistants, Inc. (APPA) is a nonprofit organization of Physican Assistants who work in the area of mental health care. The APPA is the only officially recognized association for PA's in psychiatry and mental health by the American Academy of Physician Assistant. |
| WHAT IS A PHYSICIANS ASSISTANT? |
| Physician assistants (PA's) provide health care services with supervision by physicians. They should not be confused with medical assistants, who perform routine clinical and clerical tasks. PA's are formally trained to provide diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive health care services, as delegated by a physician. Working as members of the health care team, they take medical histories, examine patients, order and interpret laboratory tests and x- rays, and make diagnoses. They also treat minor injuries by suturing, splinting, and casting. PA's record progress notes, instruct and counsel patients, and order or carry out therapy. In 46 States and the District of Columbia, physician assistants may prescribe medications. PA's may also have managerial duties. Some order medical and laboratory supplies and equipment and may supervise technicians and assistants. |
| Physician assistants always work with the supervision of a physician. However, PA's may provide care in rural or inner city clinics where a physician is present for only 1 or 2 days each week, conferring with the supervising physician and other medical professionals as needed or required by law. PA's may also make house calls or go to hospitals and nursing homes to check on patients and report back to the physician. |
| The duties of physician assistants are determined by the supervising physician and by State law. Aspiring PAs should investigate the laws and regulations in the States where they wish to practice. |
| Many PA's work in primary care areas such as general internal medicine, pediatrics, and family medicine. Others work in specialty areas, such as general and thoracic surgery, emergency medicine, orthopedics, and geriatrics. PA's specializing in surgery provide pre- and post-operative care and may work as first or second assistants during major surgery. |
| All States require that new PA's complete an accredited, formal education program. As of July 1999, there were 116 accredited or provisionally accredited educational programs for physician assistants; 64 of these programs offered a bachelor's degree or a degree option. The rest offered either a certificate, an associate degree or a master's degree. Most PA graduates have at least a bachelor's degree. |
| Source: The Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor |
Looking for information about the APPA, you can reach the President of the APPA right here. Don St. John
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