Throughout the U.S., there are plenty of career opportunities for physician assistants, also known as PAs.  In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor projects PA employment to rise 30 percent from 2010 to 2020, much faster than average.  Today, hospitals, physician groups, nursing facilities and other types of providers are seeking qualified PAs to examine patients, diagnose problems and provide treatment or make recommendations to the examining physician.

One reason for the rising demand is that the U.S. population is aging, creating a need for more medical and healthcare professionals in general.  Another factor is that more physicians are becoming specialists, and opening the door to PAs who can provide primary healthcare services.

To become a PA, you first need to earn a bachelor’s degree and then complete an accredited program for physician assistants, which usually takes two years and leads to a master’s degree.  Graduates need to pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) and obtain a state license as well.

But there are both personal and financial awards for completing the PA program.  Most PAs enjoy the challenge of being on the front line of patient care, and assessing and diagnosing patients with a wide range of conditions.  Many PAs also order and interpret lab tests, assist in surgical procedures, prescribe medications and educate patients and families about wellness and preventive health care.

Salaries for physician assistants are also highly competitive.  As of May 2010, the median annual wage for PAs was $86,140, according to the Department of Labor.  If you are interested in a PA career, you can find more information from the American Academy of Physician Assistants at www.aapa.org.

If you’re considering a career in healthcare, take a look at becoming a physician assistant (PA).  According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment is expected to grow much faster than average, and job opportunities for PAs should be particularly strong in rural and inner-city healthcare facilities.

There are two key reasons that physicians, hospitals and other healthcare institutions are expected to hire more PAs in the next decade. The first is growing overall demand for healthcare services with the continued aging of the 77 million Boomer generation. The second is productivity. By providing primary care services and assisting with medical and surgical procedures, PAs help physicians make better use of their time.

In general, PAs are valued members of an organization’s healthcare team, providing diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive services under the direction of a physician.  PAs must complete an accredited education program and pass a national exam to obtain a license, and many professionals have college degrees and other healthcare experience.

While the exact duties vary from employer to employer, PAs typically take medical histories and examine patients. They may order laboratory and radiology tests and make diagnoses. Many PAs can treat minor injuries as well. They advise patients and may be able to prescribe some medications.

Recognizing their importance to the healthcare system, many states are allowing PAs to take on more responsibilities under their licensing programs.  In medically underserved areas, such as rural communities and urban clinics, PAs may become the principal providers of healthcare services.  They may consult with physicians via regular meetings or phone or video conferences as needed.  As a well-established healthcare staffing provider, All Medical Personnel is continually seeking qualified PAs for potential assignments, and we invite you to explore these career opportunities.

If you work for a large corporation or are close to someone that does, you have likely heard of corporate health and wellness.   It is a concept where a medical facility is located within the office building to provide medical attention to employees and many times their families as well. The number of corporations offering these programs has grown drastically over the past several years.  There is a huge focus on preventative medicine.  This time of year, flu shots are a hot topic.  By keeping employees healthy, the corporation ends up spending less overall on medical claims.

If you are a nurse practitioner, physician assistant or physician interested in working one of our many corporate health and wellness jobs, we would love to hear from you!

We currently have openings in San Antonio, TX for physicians and mid-levels, Pittsburg and Philadelphia, PA for physicians and in 15 cities throughout Florida for physicians.

Job descriptions vary depending on the client and the focus of the program.  

For more information on these or our many other locum tenens opportunities, please contact:

Kim Stover
214-329-0842
kim.stover@allmedstaffing .com

It’s not just physicians who are taking advantage of All Medical Personnel’s nationwide locum tenens program. A growing number of nurses, physician assistants (PAs) and other healthcare professionals are finding that temporary employment is well suited to their lifestyles.

Based on our firm’s 20-plus years of experience, temporary or long-term locum tenens placements offer several important benefits for healthcare professionals, including:

• Flexibility. The locum tenens lifestyle provides far greater flexibility with your schedule. You can choose to work for six months and take a six-month hiatus, or work year-round in half a dozen locations - or any other schedule that meets your needs. 
• Work-family balance. Many nurses, PAs and physicians prefer a work schedule that allows them to spend more time with their children. Other professionals must find time to care for an aging parent.  A locum tenens engagement opens up new options for finding the right balance between work and family responsibilities.
• Adaptability.  A locum tenens professional can choose from a wide variety of work locations throughout the country. That means exposure to new working environments and healthcare systems, providing greater opportunities to advance your career.
• Skill building. Many nurses and PAs use locum tenens assignments to enhance their clinical skills in different settings or to reenter the healthcare field after earning a new degree or certification.
• New experiences. A locum tenens professional can gain experience in new clinical settings, handling different types of cases and working with new patient populations.

All Medical Personnel has a dedicated locum tenens team of staffing professionals who are committed to making your locum tenens experience hassle-free.   If you are interested in locum tenens, click here or call to discuss these career opportunities.