Career ProjectBy: Tiffany

Miller

Physician Assistant

Description: Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician, conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for Physician Assistants.

Medical Assistant

Description: Perform administrative and certain clinical duties under the direction of a physician. Administrative duties may include scheduling appointments, maintaining medical records, billing, and coding information for insurance purposes. Clinical duties may include taking and recording vital signs and medical histories, preparing patients for examination, drawing blood, and administering medications as directed by physician.

Duties

Physician Assistant Medical Assistant Examine patients to obtain

information about their physical condition.

Obtain, compile and record patient medical data, including health history, progress notes and results of physical examination.

Interpret diagnostic test results for deviations from normal.

Make tentative diagnoses and decisions about management and treatment of patients.

Prescribe therapy or medication with physician approval.

Authorize drug refills and provide prescription information to pharmacies.

Change dressing on wounds.

Perform general office duties.

Perform routine laboratory tests and sample analyses.

Record patients’ medical history, vital statistics, or information such as test results in medical records.

Schedule appointments for patients.

Show patients to examination rooms and prepare them for the physician.

Working Conditions

Physician AssistantPhysician assistants work in

physicians’ offices, hospitals, and other healthcare settings. Most work

full time.

Medical AssistantMedical assistants work in

well-lighted, clean environments. They

constantly interact with other people and may have

to handle several responsibilities at once.

Training,

qualifications,

and advancement

opportunitiesPhysician Assistant

Training Two years of

college and some health care experience.

Supervising Managing the

activities of others to accomplish goals.

Communication skills

Bachelor’s degree is the minimum formal education required.

Knowledge

Qualifications

Desire to serve patients and be self motivated.

Good bedside manner

Emotional stability

Ability to make decisions in emergencies

Willing to study throughout their career to keep up with medical advances

Advancement Opportunities

Surgery Neonatology Emergency

medicine Internal

medicine Rural primary

care Pediatrics Occupational

medicine

Training,

qualifications,

and advancement

opportunities

Training High School

Diploma No formal

education requirements

Knowledge Analytical Skills Detail oriented Interpersonal

skills Technical skills

Medical Assistant

Qualifications

Serving patients

Computer skills

Ability to make decisions during emergencies.

Common interaction with both doctors and patients.

Medical Terminology

Advancement

Opportunities

CMA (Certified Medical Assistant)

RMA (Registered Medical Assistant)

Nursing Office

manager

Earnings

Physician Assistant

$43,100-$102,230

Medical Assistant

$25,304 - $35,862

“Perfect Choice” College

Eastern Michigan UniversityThis is the college I will be going to after I get my associates degree. They just recently added a PA program and it sounds perfect for what I want to do.

Alpena community collegeThis is the college I will be going to, to get my associates degree in medical assisting. It is close to home and I can work and go to college.

DegreeMost physician assistants have a bachelor’s

degree. Then, they must complete an accredited educational program for physician assistants. That usually takes at least 2 years

of full-time study and typically leads to a master’s degree. All states require physician

assistants be licensed.

Most employers prefer graduates of formal programs in medical assisting. Post-secondary programs usually last either one year, resulting

in a certificate or diploma, or two years, resulting in an associate degree.

Cost of Degree

Physician Assistant$66,310: This is about how much it will cost

to get a masters degree to become a

PA.

Medical Assistant$10,000: This is about how much it will cost to get an Associates

degree in Medical Assisting.

Similarities

They are both in the health field.

Their job growths are both charted to grow about

30% in the next 7 years.

Work in primary care settings.

They both deal with patients.

They work together.

Differences

Medical Assistant No formal training

or education required.

Job duties do not involve practicing

medication. Median Annual

salary is around $29,000.

Physician Assistant Bachelors Degree required at the least.

a physician assistant is licensed to

practice medicine under the direction of physicians and

surgeons. Median Annual salary

is around $87,000.

Career I Prefer

and Why

The career I would prefer would be a medical assistant. Even though you can make way more money being a physician assistant, it is a lot of work, and I like my sleep. I have been working at the doctors

office as a medical assistant for almost two years for my work site, and I love it! I am never bored and I know I wouldn’t hate my job. I can see my self going to work 5 days a week, getting holidays off and weekends. It is really my dream job.

Careers. n.p. 2010. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

UT South Western. The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 2013. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

Bureau of Labor Statistics. Office of Occupational Statistics and Employment Projections, 29 Mar. 2012. Web. 19 Nov. 2013

Career One Stop. n.p. 2013. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.

The End