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What is a Physician Assistant (PA)?
A PA is a licensed and rigorously trained clinician who practices medicine across all healthcare specialties. PAs are qualified to counsel on prevention, diagnose conditions, and treat medical problems. To obtain licensure, PAs in New York state must complete at least 1,600 hours of clinical training through a master’s degree and pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE). PAs in New York practice in collaboration with licensed physicians. You may also hear Physician Assistants referred to as Physician Associates, a term that New York has not adopted but is used in other states.
History:
There were not enough doctors!
- During the mid 20th century, the U.S. experienced an increase in population and a decrease in generalist physicians, leaving countless people without healthcare.
- PAs were a solution to address the practitioner shortage, expanding access to care and improving healthcare across the U.S.
The First PAs
- The PA profession was created in 1965, with the first students graduating from Duke University.
- The first PAs were military veterans who gained medical experience serving as Navy Corpsmen during the Vietnam War.
Present Day
- Today, PAs enter the field from diverse clinical backgrounds and provide a wide range of care in every medical specialty.
Why see a PA at City Care Family Practice?
Our physician assistants collaborate closely with physicians and other specialists to ensure that you are getting well-rounded, carefully reviewed care. In addition, it is often faster to get an appointment with a PA, which means you get to be seen sooner – especially for urgent or same-day issues!
PAs can provide any of the services our practice offers, including:
- Physical exams
- Pap smears
- Travel counseling
- Vaccinations
- STD counseling
- Acute and chronic illness treatment/management
- Mental health care
- Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (HIV)
- Prescribe medicines
- Perform In-office procedures like cyst removal or laceration repair.
Additionally, our PAs are known for providing exceptional, compassionate, and comprehensive primary care. Here are some patient testimonials:
“PA Helstrom is clearly very knowledgeable and kind. She put me at ease and I felt comfortable asking questions and sharing information. She was patient and made me feel heard. I am grateful to have found her as my primary care provider.”
Click here to learn more about McCall Helstrom, PA-C.
“Harry makes you feel comfortable. Easy to speak with, great listener, solid communicator. Happy to have found Harry and he is now my primary provider.”
Click here to learn more about Harry O’Shea, PA-C.
Choosing the PA profession
“I chose the PA profession for its flexibility to work in different specialties and the opportunity to make it easier for patients to get care. I value the balance of collaborating with physicians while managing my own dedicated patient panel.” – Harry O’Shea, PA-C
“I am applying to PA school, with the hopes of helping to open the door to care for more patients. I am excited to team up with like-minded providers and form lasting connections with patients as I support them in staying healthy and managing medical conditions.” – Ruby, Medical Assistant
Bottom Line
Contrary to what people may believe, seeing a PA does not mean receiving “lesser care”—it means treatment by a highly trained professional who has your best interests in mind.
Call 212-545-1888 or make an appointment through the patient portal to book with one of our outstanding PAs.
By Ruby S, Medical Assistant at CCFP and an aspiring Physician Assistant
References
Miller, Loren. “The Birth of the Physician Assistant – Circulating Now from the NLM Historical Collections.” U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, 15 Nov. 2016, circulatingnow.nlm.nih.gov/2016/11/15/the-birth-of-the-physician-assistant/
“License Requirements for Physician Assistants.” New York State Education Department , 1 May 2020, www.op.nysed.gov/professions/physician-assistants/license-requirements