What is the difference between a physician and a physician assistant?
968414
I do know that a physician goes through a lot more school and gets paid very well.  BUT at the same time a physicians assistant does not have to be in school well into their 30's, they still make a very excellent paycheck AND they don't have to deal with all of the lawsuits that physicians have to deal with.  Your best bet is to be a PA.  Good luck!
945053
The abbreviation 'p' refers to 'page' (eg  p. 7)\nThe abbreviation 'pp' refers to 'pages'  (eg  pp. 7–10)\n\nie  just means more than one page
812687
I can't answer your question directly, but I recommend checking with the American Academy of Physician's Assistants at aapa.org.  I'm sure you will be much more likely to find an answer to your question there.
737021
You probably want to consider going to PA School (Physician Assistant). PA's are highly trained medical experts who work under the supervision of physicians. Please don't confuse PAs with Medical Assistants. Basically PAs are more than nurses but not doctors. They can practice medicine in most fields like OB/Gyn, Emergency Medicine, Pediatrics, ENT... and more. The advantage of this career is that you spend only two years to get your master in Health Sceince and then you are off to see patients with a flexible schedule and a life of your own.  Try researching this career... plus, the pay is extremely competitive.
1088408
The front office is where a business deals with customers or clients and makes its appearance to the world. The back office is where the work gets done. A front office assistant needs to have people skills and be good with the public; a back office assistant needs to know how the guts of the business work.\n\nBest wishes, and God bless.
1077353
Certified Medical Assistant,,,,just helps\nLicensed Practical nurse .....it is an associates degree and can far more than the CMA\nRegistered Nurse ....is a four year degree and more to do and makes more money
164946
For their educations, a doctor goes to college/university for four years to get a Bachelors degree, then to medical school for three years to get a Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) degree.\n\nTo become a practicing physician, a person with an MD or DO must work as a resident for one year; this is on-the-job training.\n\nDuring the 7 years of school, the student pays to go to school.  During the one year of residency, the resident is paid for working.
800118
Depends on the program you're applying for. Most PA programs would like you to have at least some health care experience, I know some people that get this by volunteering though. The best thing to do is to start looking at the programs you're interested in and finding out what the specific req's are. I've attached a link to the American Academy of Physician Assistants programs page... and actually the whole site is pretty helpful for setting you up for admission. Hope this helps!
1182227
I know in the U.S. Physician's Assistants can prescribe as long as they are working under a physician. They can write prescriptions using their own names. I don't know about Nigeria though.
1129108
Well,\n\nA nurse practitioner is usually a master's prepared nurse. Some nurse practitioners also have certificates, but I am pretty sure that has changed to a master's as a minimum requirement. A physician's assistant can have a certificate, but most have to be masters prepared. \n\nA nurse practitioner and physician's assistant have many of the same job responsibilities. Both answer to physicians. A nurse practitioner can write prescriptions in some states, physicians assistants may not.\n\nPhysicians assistants may have permission in some states to perform light surgical procedures. \n\nAlot of things depend on the rules in your state and the programs offered. This will require some research on your part.
415032
There is a huge difference between a medical doctor and a PhD holder. A medical doctor is a student of medicine and has specialized in a particular field of medicine only. He studies further to become a practicing doctor or physician or even a surgeon. \nBut a PhD is a doctorate in any of the educational fields - Literature, Science, Arts, Commerce etc., and not necessarily medicine. It is the further deep-rooted study after a Masters degree.
11658
They are two different types of degrees.  While both are doctorates the MD is called a professional degree and the PhD is a research degree. \n\nA professional degree is generally 3-4 years after getting a Bachelor's degree.  Professional degrees include the MD, DO (another type of physician), JD (lawyers), Foot doctors -DPM, dentists - DMD or DDS, Chiropractors DC (chiropractic schools may not require a BS),DPharm for pharmacists, or  OD for eye doctors is also a first professional degree.  There are others but you get the idea... you can start a profession when you finish one of these degrees. \n\nOn the other hand research degrees like the PhD, DEng for Engineering, DMus for Music, DPH for Public Health require from 7 to 9 years after the completion of the undergraduate or 11 to 13 years of full time study and research. \n\nSo while the MD may sound like a big deal (and I'm sure it is) the research degrees take much more work to finish.  While the doctor may prescribe a drug scientists with PhDs and other research degrees probably discovered, designed, and tested the drug. \n\nI know a physician who spent 4 years in Medical School and then got a PhD in Neurobiology in six more years so he spent 12 years in college.  (He worked as a physician while doing his PhD.) \n\nThe links below are from the US Department of Education and explain the difference between first professional and research doctorates.
195950
Medical assistants perform routine administrative and clinical tasks to keep the offices and clinics of physicians, podiatrists, chiropractors and optometrists running smoothly. \n\nThe duties of medical assistants vary from office to office, depending on the location and size of the practice and the practitioner's specialty. In small practices, medical assistants usually are "generalists," handling both administrative and clinical duties and reporting directly to an office manager, physician or other health practitioner. Those in large practices tend to specialize in a particular area, under the supervision of department administrators.\n\nMedical assistants perform many administrative duties, including answering telephones, greeting patients, updating and filing patients' medical records, filling out insurance forms, handling correspondence, scheduling appointments, arranging for hospital admission and laboratory services, and handling billing and bookkeeping.\n\nClinical duties vary according to state law and include taking medical histories and recording vital signs, explaining treatment procedures to patients, preparing patients for examination, and assisting the physician during the examination. Medical assistants collect and prepare laboratory specimens or perform basic laboratory tests on the premises, dispose of contaminated supplies, and sterilize medical instruments. They instruct patients about medications and special diets, prepare and administer medications as directed by a physician, authorize drug refills as directed, telephone prescriptions to a pharmacy, draw blood, prepare patients for X- rays, take electrocardiograms, remove sutures, and change dressings.\n\nMedical assistants also may arrange examining-room instruments and equipment, purchase and maintain supplies and equipment, and keep waiting and examining rooms neat and clean.\n\nAssistants who specialize have additional duties. Podiatric medical assistants make castings of feet, expose and develop X-rays, and assist podiatrists in surgery. Ophthalmic medical assistants help ophthalmologists provide eye care. They conduct diagnostic tests, measure and record vision, and test eye muscle function. They also show patients how to insert, remove and care for contact lenses, and they apply eye dressings. Under the direction of the physician, ophthalmic medical assistants may administer eye medications. They also maintain optical and surgical instruments and may assist the ophthalmologist in surgery.\n\nThe earnings of medical assistants vary, depending on their experience, skill level and location. Median annual earnings of medical assistants were $23,940 in 2002. The middle 50 percent earned between $20,260 and $28,410. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $17,640, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $34,130. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of medical assistants in 2002 were as follows:\n\nGeneral medical and surgical hospitals: $24,460 \nOffices of physicians: $24,260 \nOutpatient care centers: $23,980 \nOther ambulatory healthcare services: $23,440 \nOffices of other health practitioners: $21,620
53327
Physical therapists CAN be doctors. However, their doctorate (or PHD) is in physical therapy, not medicine.\n\nThe same is true for pharmacists, by the way.
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A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a registered nurse who has completed advanced education (generally a minimum of a master's degree) and training in the diagnosis and management of common medical conditions, including chronic illnesses.\n\nIn the United States, Physician Assistants (PAs) are non-physicians licensed to practice medicine with a physician's supervision. This supervision, in most cases, need not be direct or on site and many PAs practice in remote or underserved areas in satellite clinics. PAs can treat patients and, in most states, prescribe medicine, and in some states in the US they carry a DEA number that gives them authority to prescribe controlled medications like narcotics.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physicians%27_assistant\n\nPA education:\nAll States require that PAs complete an accredited, formal education program and pass a National exam to obtain a license. PA programs usually last at least 2 years and are full time. Most programs are in schools of allied health, academic health centers, medical schools, or 4-year colleges; a few are in community colleges, the military, or hospitals. Many accredited PA programs have clinical teaching affiliations with medical schools.  Many PAs have prior experience as registered nurses, while others come from varied backgrounds, including military corpsman/medics and allied health occupations such as respiratory therapists, physical therapists, and emergency medical technicians and paramedics.  http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos081.htm\nPA salaries:\nAverage Base:  $65,000\nAverage 1st Year: $56,000\nSalary Range $50,000 - $105,000   http://www.allied-physicians.com/salary_surveys/physician_assistant_salaries.htm\n\nThe median expected salary for a typical Nurse Practitioner in the United States is $74,097.  http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layouthtmls/swzl_compresult_national_HC07000008.html
38586
After an undergraduate degree is completed, those who are interested in becoming an MD then go to 4 years of medical school.  To be a PA you need to also have an undergraduate degree, then about 2 years of schooling in a PA program.  You can read more about their training here\nhttp://www.aapa.org/gandp/paeduc.html
884466
PA= Professional Association