Eva Krcmarik, Olivia Drake, Chloe Tuttle, Erica Eason, Darrian Houser, Larhonda Kemp,

Quenell Stroman
HSMT 2101

Primary Areas of Work and Specialties

The primary area of work for all of our interviewees was a physician’s assistant. A couple
of the PA’s we interviewed worked in different specialties such as orthopedics, and urologic
oncology. The other PA’s we interviewed worked in family medicine, and an oncology
department. Being able to interview people from these various areas and specialties of work
helped to give us a broader perspective of the many different possibilities for work as a
physician’s assistant, and the rewards and challenges that come with each one.

Why this Field is Important

As a physician assistant you can help people who need it the most which is what truly
makes it so important. Our interviewed family medicine physician assistant shares that it's the
middle ground health career. PAs are able to reach out to those troubled by health disparities,
creating equal opportunity and trust. Being a physician assistant, you get the chance to touch the
lives of all different peoples in all different age groups. A oncology physician assistant pointed
out that this helps you reach into the community which is how you truly make a difference. As
said by our interviewed orthopedics PA, fighting disease and easing suffering helps decrease
mortality which ultimately increases production and success as a society. The people who are in
this profession have worked very hard to be where they are. They are not only passionate about
what they do, but they truly care for and love healing and helping their patients.

Groups and Populations Covered by this area of Work

Majority of the physician assistant’s interviewed have services available to people of all
ages and genders, while the patients who they actually see differs quite a bit. Our PA who
specializes in orthopedics works with children starting at the age of two and upwards but did not
specify which age groups or genders he sees the most. Our PA who works in the oncology and
hematology department would generally see a large number of patients around the ages of fifty
and sixty. The urologic oncology specialist interviewed said her patients are about seventy
percent male and thirty percent female, while our family practice PA sees the greatest range of
ages and genders.

Required Qualifications

To work as a PA, there are certain qualifications and licensure you have to have. From all
of the interviews, the answers remained consistent with having four years of undergraduate as
well as 2 years following that with an accredited physician’s assistant school. After passing the
physician assistant exam, you get a state license which lasts usually up to 10 years. Each state is
different, but right now you have to retake the exam every six years, but will change to 10 years
soon. To complete a residency, you have to have the minimum requirements for family medicine
practice and have residency education to be certified by the American Board of Family
Medicine.

Levels of Skills and Experience Required

There are many skills and experience that is required to work as a physician’s assistant.
First, you have to complete medical school and do a 5 year of residency with rotations in
pediatrics, general surgery and obstetrics. Along with the technical skills you have to have, you
also need to learn to empathize with people and connect. When the patient explains their
situation or problem, you have to learn to listen and really understand the person. It is extremely
important to have the dedication to learn everyday as you go along learning from their physician
supervisor.

Academic Programs

In present time, there is only one true way to obtain the ability to be a physician’s
assistant. One must attend a four year university and obtain a bachelor’s degree. During this time
as an undergraduate you must take classes to solidify yourself in basic sciences. After this degree
is finished, it is required that you have 500-1000 clinical shadowing hours. This will allow you to
apply for a master’s program and after you finish the master’s program you have to take a state
licensure test to practice in the state you plan to live and work in.

Job/Employment Opportunities
There is always a job for a physician assistant. Every type of health service facility has a
physician assistant. Not only are they licensed to do numerous things amongst the clinic, but they
can work in any type of specialty or practice there is to offer. All physicians assistants that were
interviewed worked in completely unique specialties. Also during each interview with the
various physicians assistants, all commented that there are all kinds of jobs when working as a
PA just like the different ones from the interviews that were conducted. According to the Bureau
of Labor Statistics, the profession is predicted to have a thirty percent growth rate until year two
thousand-twenty four.

Challenges to Working in this Discipline

There are many challenges that a physician assistant can have. Physician assistants carry
a big workload and have to learn how to balance work and a home life. An individual in this
profession needs to be updated with the new technology and treatments. A physician assistant
also has to be as skilled as a doctor, but they have almost half the training. Another challenge a
physician assistant faces is patients not understanding or wanting to cooperate with them.
Patients can sometimes get upset if they only get to see a physician assistant and not a doctor
even though they only scheduled an appointment with a physician assistant.

A Typical Day

A typical day for a PA is a very busy one. The hours tend to be a little on the longer side
with them seeing patients all day long while they are there. Not only are they seeing these
patients all day, but they are working on documentations all day as well. Some can even change
scenery day-to-day or even week-to-week. Being a PA is a very rewarding job, but also requires
one to put in the work necessary to be successful. According to all the PAs that were
interviewed, a day’s work is full of quick pace and an on going and at most for Rosemary
Grullon who is a PA at Mint Hill Primary Care, Carolinas Healthcare System/Atrium on that day
interviewed had seen in total 27 patients which according to PA status quite a busy day. At the
least out of those that were interviewed was 15 o 17 patients on average a day. Both Eric
Chandley, PA-C Specialist of Novant Health in Cornelius and Nicole Ehrman, PA in
Pennsylvania both work not only in a clinic but also in a hospital/ER as mentioned previously
before. Also during their daily routine, PAs also deal with not only bodily complications but
scheduled and cancelled appointment complications as well. No matter throughout the United
States, PAs similarly go through the same typical daily routine everyday, whether with
documentation and/or a number of patients seen in one day. Those interviewed which were in
Pennsylvania and different parts of North Carolina all typically work with patients with acute
complications or regular check up and appointments unless work in the hospital settings and in
all those that were interviewed unitely enjoy their career and it troubles that come along with it.

Appendix
https://www.bls.gov/

Interviewed: Nicole Ehrman PA from Pennsylvania

Interviewer: Erica Eason
Interviewed on March 21, 2018
Paper organizer: Quenell Stroman
Interview attempts: (704) 510-8000 : Novant Health University Family Physicians (Longest call
and Conversation)
(980) 218- 1860: Fast Med Urgent Care
(704) 316- 1050: Novant Health Urgent Care & Occupational Medicine- Charlotte
(704) 547- 9739: First Care Medical Clinic- The Plaza
Interviewer: Olivia Drake
Interviewed: Mary Baillargeom

Interviewer: Eva Krcmarik

Interviewed: Eric Chandley
Reference Listed
- Due to the high demand of the PA assistance over the time of the project was initiated,
those that were interviewed were those that were able to answer the phone and/or email
and were able to take the time out of their busy schedule to help us with this project.