A Physician Assistant attends specialized medical training in pharmacology, anatomy, physiology, and the disease process leading to a Bachelor of Science or Master' Degree in Physician Assistant Studies. The Physician Assistant passes state licensing boards to practice health care under the supervision of a Physician. The Physician Assistant can accomplish medical examinations, order and interpret diagnostic tests, write prescriptions for medications, and make specialist referrals.

A physician's assistant cannot write a C-II prescription for a retail patient. The P.A. may only write an order for a Schedule II for immediate or ongoing administration "on-site". "On-site" is defined as:

A PA, with valid CSA and DEA registrations and within the limits of protocol with the PA's supervising physician, may prescribe any prescription drug or controlled substance except Schedule II depressants. Those substances are listed in Iowa Code 124.206, paragraphs 4 and 5.

The WCMC PA Program's duration is 26 months. There is a preclinical phase of approximately 10 months followed by a 16-month clinical phase.

Physician assistants are trained in medicine; classroom courses are taught by physicians, the educators who teach physicians, and physician assistants. 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 school. PA instruction averages 111 weeks, and a typical medical school runs 155 weeks.

A Nurse Practitioner is an R.N. with advanced formal education who is certified by a national nursing organization. A Physician Assistant is a Health Care professional licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision who is certified by national Physician Assistant organization. Campus Calendar | News | Libraries & Archives | Athletics | Jobs | Contact Us | Campus Safety | OneSource

Some will say that a P.A. does what nobody else wants to do! It's an entry level job yet extremely important. It may include a wide range of tasks from clerical work, getting coffee, driving producers, wrangling extras to tracking talent. It is a stepping stone; however, you must do this job well in order to move on. The keys to being a good P.A. are listening and taking direction. Be reliable, aware, efficient and resourceful.

PA's or Physician Assistants do just as the name implies; they assist physicians by seeing patients, assisting with procedures and in general being an extension of the physician. Often times this is done without the physician being directly present. HOWEVER, there are differences between a PA and a physician. The primary difference between a PA and a physician is the question of autonomy. As a PA you will ALWAYS be under the supervision of a physician in some form.

Registered nurses study nursing and PAs study medicine. While some areas of education overlap, nurses focus on nursing assessment and patient care issues. A PA is taught to diagnose and treat illnesses using the medical model. A registered nurse, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, works to promote health, prevent disease, and help patients cope with illness.

Your doctor is very concerned with your continued health and appointments are available Monday through Friday by calling our Appointment desk. If you have an acute illness or episode most likely, for your convenience, you can make a same day appointment with our nurse practitioner or physician assistant. You still have the choice of seeing your physician. A Physician is immediately available to address serious conditions or concerns.

The physician and physician assistant work closely together to deliver quality care. Although you may occasionally see the nurse practitioner instead of your physician, your physician is made aware of the nature of your visit. To view the hours of operation for a specific site please select the "Locations" menu item from above.