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It took me a total of 8 years to become an Athletic Trainer and a Physician Assistant. Four years for my B.S., 1 year for my M.S., and 3 years for my PA-C. Obviously, the more experience in healthcare, the better. It's never too early to begin shadowing a PA or ATC. PA and ATC programs like to see that you have already been exposed to the respective professions and have a feel for what it takes to become an ATC or PA. Hope this helps. Good Luck!

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Here is what I and many of my classmates did to find a Physician to shadow during the summer months. First, talk to your family doctor to see if either him/herself or one of his/her colleagues would allow you to shadow them for a few hours a week during the summer months. Don't ask for too many hours to start out. You can always increase your hours after you get your foot in the door. Another avenue is to go to your local Emergency Room(s) and ask to speak with the director and tell them of your intentions to attend PA school and see if you can shadow there. Be persistent in your quest, you're bound to find a doc that will allow you to shadow them. As always, remember to dress and act professionally. Good luck!

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In a typical day of a PA-C, there certainly is a lot of writing involved. The following is a list of everything that a PA-C, during a typical day, would be responsible for when it comes to writing:

1. Prescriptions
2. PT scripts
3. SOAP notes on every patient
4. History & Physicals
5. Intra-office correspondence
6. Operative assist notes
7. Hospital orders

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When I was going through school, the University of Arizona (Graduate) and West Chester University (Undergraduate) had the reputations as being the best!

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I feel that a starting salary in Orthopaedic Surgery, with your credentials, should be in the following range: $70,000 - $80,000. You should also negotiate for the following benefits:

1. Profit sharing - A percentage of every reimbursable surgery that you assist on.
2. Life Insurance.
3. Health.
4. Dental.
5. Prescription.
6. CME reimbursement - At least $2,500 annually.
7. 4 weeks paid vacation.
8. Exemplary end of year bonus.
9. 3-5% annual increase in salary.

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First of all, it's "Physician Assistant" not "Physician's Assistant. Didn't want you to get any points taken off. ;-)

Let's begin:

1. The main responsibility of a PA-C is Patient Care. I can list all the duties but it would take all day. PA's can do a lot of things that a Physician can, but must know their limitations.
2. Areas of knowledge that are important are: Physiology/Anatomy/Biology/Pharmacalogy Skills necessary are relative to the area of medicine one chooses to practice. The most important skills are people skills. Certainly bed-side manner falls into this category. Treat each and every patient like you would treat a family member.
3. Normal entrance qualifications are specific to each and every program. Go to www.aapa.org to find out more.
4. Just a PA program.
5. Go to www.aapa.org to find out more. Salaries are different depending on what part of the country you may be looking for employment.
6. Medical/Dental/401K/Annual Bonus.
7. Not much room for advancement as a PA-C. Once a PA-C always a PA-C.
8. I think that there will always be a need for PA's. Hard to say what kind of need in today's healthcare climate.
9. Not sure how to answer this one.
10. Any Physician who is looking for some help either in the office or hospital, etc.
11. Hospitals/Private Practice/Clinics/Surgery Centers/Prisons.
12. Positive: Ability to be challenged daily in the field of medicine. Negative: Working with the wrong Doc's.
13. You must be certified by the AAPA and licensed by the individual state in which you are to practice.
14. Nurses/Other PA's/Physicians/Office Staff/Administrators/Patients/PT's/OT's/Chiropractors/Insurance Managers/Pharmaceutical Reps/Surgical Suppply Reps/etc.
15. Nurse Practitioners are closely related.

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I would recommend that you see a Sports Medicine Specialist in your area before you begin any type of exercise regimen. You need to have that injury properly diagnosed before you begin training again. A Bone Scan will tell whether or not there is a stress fracture present. Hope this helps!

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A degree in the following fields, I feel, would best prepare you for PA School:

1. Biology
2. Chemistry
3. Pre-Med
4. Pre-PT
5. Physiology

Answer:

Wow! Lots of questions! Let's take this one at a time.

1. Regular daily exercise bolsters the immune system and thus helps prevent disease. It also strengthens the musculo-skeletal and cardio-respiratory/cardio-vascular system which allows for a longer healthier life.
2. Go to the New England Journal of Medicine to look for studies performed regarding the effects of exercise and its relation to disease.
3. Medically supervised exercise programs done by professionals (doctors, nurses etc.) can benefit everyone.
4. Medically supervised exercise routines, if done properly will only benefit an individual.
5. Any sport that elevates the heart rate and utilizes/incorporates many muscle groups can all improve one's overall health.
6. Skip #6 (answered above).
7. Medically supervised exercise for the elderly is of utmost importance. Strength training has shown to be very beneficial for our senior citizens.
8. Start slowly and don't overdue it.
9. Any sport that doesn't place them at risk. This is a decision that each individual's parents have to decide.
10. See #9.

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I personally think that it is a waste of time and money to do a residency program in surgery in order to work as a surgical PA after graduation. Most doctors want to train the PA-C that they hire. They want the PA-C to do things a certain way like they do. There are plenty of jobs out there for new grads like yourself. Any doctor that hires a new grad will certainly know that there will be a learning curve involved. Good Luck!

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Synvisc or Hyalgan injections have a high success rate when done properly. You receive 3 injections into the joint space over a period of 15 days. Talk to your family physician and see who he would recommend. Look for an Orthopedist who has been performing these injections for at least a couple of years. Preferably a knee specialist. Hyalgan has a very low side effect profile. This is the brand that I used during my tenure in Orthopedics. Hope this helps!

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I'd be glad to answer all your questions. First of all, it is a Physician Assistant not Physician's Assistant. Just wanted to clear that up before I got started. Let's go.....

1. I've been an ATC since 1984 which means 19 years as a Certified Athletic Trainer.
2. Both internship as an undergraduate then educational as a graduate student.
3. BS in Physical Education - Temple University, MS in Athletic Training - University of Arizona.
4. Advanced Cardiac Life Support, CPR/AED, PA-C.
5. I am currently a private business owner (www.geesechasers.com). I recently left healthcare due to a business idea that just flourished.
6. I worked as an ATC for approximately 17 years and worked as a PA-C for 3 years.
7. I worked at the High School setting as a full-time ATC my entire career as an ATC.
8. I liked working around sports and the student-athletes.
9. Administrators were my least favorite part of the job.
10. ATC's can start in NJ @ $35,000/year. PA-C's can start around $60,000/year.
11. When you are an ATC/PA-C you bring a lot of orthopaedic knowledge and experience to any setting that you may choose to work in.
12. Work hard to achieve your goals and try to find good people to work with. Finding a good working environment makes all the difference in the world! Also, treat all of your patients like they were a family member.

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The best supplement to training is a well-balanced diet. You can save yourself lots of the green stuff ($) by eating a well-balanced diet. Most supplements have an extreme level of the USDA Recommended Daily Allowance, which is basically just flushed away. If you do your homework, and explore the world of nutrition, you can figure out which "way of eating" would best suit your needs and your sons' needs. Good luck!

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Jennifer....First of all, Good Luck with your schooling! A Physician Assistant in Sports Medicine is someone who practices Orthopaedics with the athlete in mind. The duties of a Physician Assistant in Sports Medicine would include:

1. First assisting in Surgery.
2. See patients alone and with the Supervising Physician(s).
3. May provide medical coverage at local high school athletic events.
4. Be in charge of Durable Medical Equipment, i.e. Braces/CPM's, etc.
5. Work as a liaison between local Athletic Trainers and the Physicians.

As far as electives to choose to pump up your Curriculum Vitae......I would definately take a foreign language, escpecially Spanish. Employers love to see that you are fluent in more than 1 language. My second choice would be a Computer class that would strengthen your skills with possible webpage design, etc.

Hope this helps. Good Luck!

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Thanks for the all the inquisitive questions. First of all, let's tackle what my typical week is like as a Physician Assistant:

Monday: Office hours day, see patient's from 9:30 - 5:00pm. I have my own schedule of patients and I also see our 2 surgeons patients along side of each of them, assisting in any capacity that is deemed necessary.

Tuesday: OR(Operating Room) day. I assist, right along side the surgeon with every procedure from ACL reconstructions to Ulnar nerve re-locations. Yes we do plenty of arthroscopy's, both shoulder and knee. Hours are typically from 7:00 - 4:00pm or whenever your last case is over.

Wednesday: Same as Tuesday.

Thursday: Same as Monday.

Friday: Sometimes an OR day and sometimes a "catch up" day. I am the only practitioner in the office and I handle all the phone calls and patient appointments. I also use this day to get caught up on all my dictations and editting, etc.

As far as rotations go.....Yes, PA's do rotate in Emergencey Medicine for approximately 6-8 weeks.

To answer your question regarding interning as an ATC while attending PA school.....forget about it! You'll be up to your eye balls with work in PA school and certainly wouldn't be able to intern as an ATC. Just not feasible.

Medicine is a very fascinating and challenging field to say the least. Always keep the patient as your priority!

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First of all, you only have to attend PA School to work in any sub-specialty in Medicine. You do, however, have the option of attending a 1-2 year residency program in Surgery at a few Universities around the country. It is not imperative though to attend a surgical residency program. I did not go through a surgical residency program and am working with 2 top surgeons in Orthopaedics. Secondly, an emphatic YES to the question will having a Masters in Athletic Training help you when interviewing for a job as a Surgical Orthopaedic PA. Orthopaedists tend to favor PA's with Sports Medicine experience. Get back in school, you won't regret it!

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When studying the problems that can occur with the low back, you need to consider many muscle groups. If there is imbalance in any of the muscle groups involved, there tends to be a problem. You must not only consider the back exstensors, you must also consider the hip flexors and abdominal muscles. The following muscle groups are the ones I would recommend looking into:

1. The back extensors: The Erector Spinae (Iliocostalis thoracis, Longissimus thoracis, Spinalis thoracis), Iliocostalis lumborum and Multifidus.
2. The hip flexors: Iliacus and Psoas major.
3. Abdominals: Rectus abdominus, Obliquus externus abdominis and Obliquus internus abdominis.

The type of problems that can occur with the low back are as follows:

1. Low back strain: Probably the most common problem. Treatment is conservative with a physical therapy regimen which involves stretching and strengthening exercises.
2. Intervertebral disc pathology: Treatment is initially conservative with again physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medication depending on the level of severity.
3. Sacro-iliac dysfunction: Common and overlooked many times clinically. Treatment is manipulation and physical therapy.

There are many things that Field Hockey players can do to prevent low back problems through proper conditioning, strengthening and stretching exercises. Consistency is key to preventing low back problems. The proper exercises must be performed at least 3-4 times/week year round. Consult with your school's Athletic Trainer for a low back program. Remember, exercise should always be a regular part of everyone's daily life.

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I first became interseted in the field of Sports Medicine when I was entering my sophomore year of college. I was always an athlete and knew that I wasn't going to make a career out of being a professional athlete. I always wanted to be around sports and decided that I could make a nice career out of sports medicine as an Athletic Trainer.

My high school education was not part of my preparation for my career in Sports Medicine. I was, however, a college prep student in High School. I would recommend taking, Biology, Anatomy & Physiology, Chemistry and Physics in High School to prepare for the college curriculum in Sports Medicine.

Sports Medicine was in its infancy when I was in High School. There wasn't any opportunity at that time for any extra-curricular work in Sports Medicine. I would suggest going to a local Physical Therapy clinic or Sports Medicine office and offering to volunteer a few hours a week in their establishment.

I no longer work as an Athletic Trainer, but my normal day when I worked as an ATC would consist of preparing athletes for games/practices through taping/bandaging and bracing. I would also provide rehab and evaluation of athletic injuries to those athletes who needed it. Providing counseling to athletes and coaches in regards to conditioning and nutrition was also part of my job.

I enjoy my career as a Surgical Orthopaedic Physician Assistant immensly. I am challenged and rewarded on a daily basis.

If you are considering Medicine as a field of endeavor, I have a few suggestions:

1. Be prepared to sacrifice years of your life.
2. Be prepared to say "I'm sorry" to loved ones for always working late.
3. Be prepared to work very, very hard.

"Success is measured not in one's accomplishments; Success is measured in what one overcomes!"

Answer:

First of all, I became a Physician Assistant because I always wanted to practice medicine and never had the opportunity to attend Medical School. PA School is 2 to 4 years (depending on where you attend). It's relative to getting the "Crash Course" of Medicine. I thought that I could basically do a lot of the same things a Physician does without having to attend 4 years of medical school, and so on.....I love caring for patients and assisting in surgery.

Secondly, the role of a Physician Assistant is to "assist the physician".....Plain and simple. We are dependent practitioners who must practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician. Physician Assistants know their boundaries and only practice medicine under very strict guidelines.

My strengths are:

1. My dedication to my patients.
2. My willingness to work hard.
3. My bedside manner.

My weaknesses are:

1. Trying to complete too many tasks at one time.

It is my hope that anyone who pursues a career in medicine is first and foremost committed to the patient. You should always treat every one of your patients like a family member. It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice!

Answer:

Good question Carol! I, for a long time now, have always wondered why field hockey and women's lacrosse players aren't required to wear not only eye protection but full helmets with face masks. I worked as an Athletic Trainer for 15+ years at the High School level and the most prevelant injuries I attended to in field hockey were:

1. Facial lacerations from being struck in the face with either the ball or an opponent's stick.
2. Fractured nasal bones.
3. Fractured facial bones.
4. Concussions.
5. Contusions to the head and face.

I have always felt that field hockey players are at great risk of catastrophic injury due to the nature of the game. What do I mean by this? The players wear virtually no protective equipment except for a mouth piece. They line up within 10 feet of an opponent who is striking a hard projectile (ball) as hard as they can...there is no time to react if the ball is hit towards their face/head...thus causing a possible catastrophic injury. It has always baffled me as to why we haven't seen more serious injuries in field hockey. Maybe we've just been lucky but I think our luck is running out.

With every passing year athletes are becoming bigger, stronger and faster. This is why protective face/head gear should be mandatory in any contact sport and in any sport where there is an inherent danger, i.e. field hockey ball, stick, etc. The powers to be in field hockey, and in any sport where common sense tells you there is a certain level of danger to the athlete, should institute rules that mandate the most prudent level of protection for the individual athlete.

Unfortunately, for the field hockey players, there is nothing "common about sense" when it comes to those in charge of the rules and regulations that govern the sport.

Answer:

"Sports Medicine" really took off in the mid to late eighties in the State of New Jersey. New Jersey along with Texas and Massachusetts were really the pioneers as far as the High School Athletic Trainer goes. Texas was truly the 1st state to have High School Athletic Trainers work as Full-time Employees in many of their high schools. Why? Because high school football is what they live and breathe in Texas. Whole towns pick up on a Friday night to travel sometimes hundreds of miles to watch their local team play and Athletic Trainers play an important role in their programs.

Also, liability is probably the main reason why high schools hire Certified Athletic Trainers. Our society has become very litigious and school districts need all the legal protection they can get and ATC's provide that protection when it comes to their athletics. Coaches just don't have the proper training or skills to handle sports related injuries and emergencies. It's not a coach's responsibility to deal with the medical aspect of sports. They should coach and trainers should handle the injuries.

In order to become a Licensed/Certified Physician Assistant I suggest you first:

1. Get a Bachelors Degree (preferably Science).
2. Shadow a PA or Doctor for 2 years in a clinical setting.
3. Apply to as many PA Programs as possible.

Most PA Programs are between 2 and 3 years long. It is a very demanding curriculum. You really have to want it. If you are unsure of becoming a PA then I would suggest another field. You are basically getting the "Crash Course" of Medicine and it's not for everyone. You will basically be sacrificing at least 2 years of your life in order to become a PA. Good Luck!

Answer:

PAs are licensed health professionals who practice medicine with physician supervision. As part of the physician/PA team, PAs exercise autonomy in diagnosing and treating illnesses. PAs deliver a broad range of medical and surgical services to diverse populations in both rural and urban settings throughout the United States. Their focus is patient care, and their practice may include education, research, and administrative activities. In most states, PAs can treat patients when the physician is away from the practice and can write prescriptions. For more information, see www.AAPA.org (the American Academy of Physician Assistants).