Jobs / Healthcare / 29-1071.00
Physician Assistants
Provide healthcare services typically performed by a physician, under the supervision of a physician. Conduct complete physicals, provide treatment, and counsel patients. May, in some cases, prescribe medication. Must graduate from an accredited educational program for physician assistants.
- US jobs
- 162,150
- Median wage
- $135,880 a year
- Job family
- Healthcare
Can agents do the work of physician assistants?
We read the evidence for the whole job family, Healthcare: Some tasks (no change in 12 months)
Agents complete 20% or more of the tasks (or projects) on a direct benchmark.
Evidence: MedAgentBench, 69.7% of tasks completed.
0% of this occupation's work, by O*NET work activities, is measured by a direct benchmark.
- 13%Administer basic health care or medical treatmentsNot measured
- 10%Administer emergency medical treatmentNot measured
- 9%Assist healthcare practitioners during medical proceduresNot measured
- 7%Maintain health or medical recordsNot measured
- 6%Prescribe medical treatments or devicesNot measured
- 5%Diagnose health conditions or disordersNot measured
- 5%Examine people or animals to assess health conditions or physical characteristicsNot measured
- 5%Analyze health or medical dataNot measured
Benchmarks for the job family
These cover work in healthcare, not always this occupation's tasks.
Direct evidence
Work benchmarks mapped primary to this family. They set the step when they report how many tasks agents complete.
Also relevant
These benchmarks cover part of this family's work, or have no result yet. They do not set its step.
Context only
These benchmarks span many occupations, or they test how agents behave. They give context but do not set the step.
Typical tasks
From O*NET 31.0. Core tasks first. Few of these tasks have a benchmark today.
- Make tentative diagnoses and decisions about management and treatment of patients.
- Interpret diagnostic test results for deviations from normal.
- Prescribe therapy or medication with physician approval.
- Obtain, compile, and record patient medical data, including health history, progress notes, and results of physical examination.
- Examine patients to obtain information about their physical condition.
- Administer or order diagnostic tests, such as x-ray, electrocardiogram, and laboratory tests.
- Instruct and counsel patients about prescribed therapeutic regimens, normal growth and development, family planning, emotional problems of daily living, and health maintenance.
- Perform therapeutic procedures, such as injections, immunizations, suturing and wound care, and infection management.
- Visit and observe patients on hospital rounds or house calls, updating charts, ordering therapy, and reporting back to physician.
- Provide physicians with assistance during surgery or complicated medical procedures.
- Supervise and coordinate activities of technicians and technical assistants.
- Order medical and laboratory supplies and equipment.
Other job titles for this occupation (24)
Cardiology Physician Assistant · Certified Physician Assistant (PA-C) · Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant (Emergency Medicine PA) · Family Practice Physician Assistant · Orthopaedic Physician Assistant · Orthopedic Physician Assistant · Physician Assistant (PA) · Physician's Assistant · Surgical Critical Care Physician Assistant (Surgical Critical Care PA) · Surgical Physician Assistant (Surgical PA) · Advanced Practice Provider (AAP) · Anesthetic Assistant · Certified Physician's Assistant (PA-C) · Doctor Assistant · Family Medicine PA (Family Medicine Physician Assistant) · Family Physician Assistant · Gynecological Assistant · Medical Service Technician · Neurosurgery PA (Neurosurgery Physician Assistant) · Pediatric Physician Assistant · Physician Associate (PA) · Radiology Practitioner Assistant · Urgent Care PA (Urgent Care Physician Assistant) · Urgent Care Specialist