Thats because only in medicine do we have fools that decided to give away their profession.
Do you see lawyers letting paralegals file their own cases and open their own shops? Hell no.
Do you see dentists letting their dental assistants open up their own clinics? Hell no.
Wow...he reappears!!! Welcome back MacGyver!
Please check some BASIC FACTS---PAs can not, under any circumstance in any state open their own clinic. The AAPA website has some great facts on there, some of which I have cut-and-pasted for you:
Q. Where do PAs "draw the line" as far as what they can treat and what a physician can treat?
A. What a physician assistant does varies with training, experience, and state law. In addition, the scope of the PA's practice corresponds to the supervising physician's practice. In general, a physician assistant will see many of the same types of patients as the physician. The cases handled by physicians are generally the more complicated medical cases or those cases which require care that is not a routine part of the PA's scope of work. Referral to the physician, or close consultation between the patient-PA-physician, is done for unusual or hard to manage cases.
Physician assistants are taught to "know our limits" and refer to physicians appropriately. It is an important part of PA training.
Q. What's the difference between a PA and a physician?
A. Physician assistants are educated in the "medical model"; in some schools they attend many of the same classes as medical students.
One of the main differences between PA education and physician education is not the core content of the curriculum, but the amount of time spent in formal educationl. In addition to time in school, physicians are required to do an internship, and the majority also complete a residency in a specialty following that. PAs do not have to undertake an internship or residency.
A physician has complete responsibility for the care of the patient. PAs share that responsibility with the supervising physicians.
Suggested Guidelines for Physician-Physician Assistant Practice
Adopted by the AMA House of Delegates, June 1995
Reflecting the comments from the American Academy of Physician Assistants, separate model guidelines for Physician/Physician Assistants practice have been developed. These are based on the unique relationship of Physician Assistants who recognize themselves
as agents of physicians with respect to delegated medical acts, and legal responsibilities. They are consistent with the existing AMA policies concerning Physician Assistants cited in this report.
In all settings, Physician Assistants recognize physician supervision in the delivery of patient care. The suggested guidelines reflect those as follows:
1. Health care services delivered by physicians and Physician Assistants must be within the scope of each practitioners authorized practice as defined by state law.
2.
The physician is ultimately responsible for coordinating and managing the care of patients and, with the appropriate input of the Physician Assistant, ensuring the quality of health care provided to patients.
3. The physician is responsible for the supervision of the Physician Assistant in
all settings.
4. The role of the Physician Assistant(s) in the delivery of care should be defined through mutually agreed upon guidelines that are developed by the physician and the Physician Assistant and based on the physician's delegatory style.
5. The physician must be available for consultation with the Physician Assistant
at all times either in person or through telecommunication systems or other means.
6. The extent of the involvement by the Physician Assistant in the assessment and implementation of treatment will depend on the complexity and acuity of the patient's condition and the training
and experience and preparation of the Physician Assistant as adjudged by the physician.
7.
Patients should be made clearly aware at all times whether they are being cared for by a physician or a Physician Assistant.
8. The physician and Physician Assistant together should review all delegated patient services on a regular basis, as well as the mutually agreed upon guidelines for practice.
9. The physician is responsible for clarifying and familiarizing the Physician Assistant with his supervising methods and style of delegating patient care.
Perhaps the most appropriate reply to the title of this thread.
