At Freiberg Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, both
Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners work with our staff of physicians
and clinical assistants. They maintain
the same high standards of practice that Freiberg
physicians are known for. They have
special expertise in orthopaedics and work closely with our physicians to
address your medical problems.
The relationship of the Physician Assistants and
Nurse Practitioners at Freiberg Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine with the
physicians is one of mutual trust and respect. Their practice patterns are
representative of the practice style and manner developed by the supervising
physicians.
Our physicians like having Physician Assistants and
Nurse Practitioners on staff. They add a unique resource to our clinical
team. They have proven themselves to be
effective both in terms of quality of care and patient acceptance.
Physician Assistants (PA’s) are health care
professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. As part
of their comprehensive responsibilities, PA’s conduct physical exams, diagnose
and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health
care, give injections, and assist in surgery.
Because of the close working relationship the PA’s
have with the physician, PA’s are educated in the medical model designed to
complement physician training.
education
and certification of the
physcian assistant
Upon graduation, physician assistants take a national
certification examination developed by the National Commission on Certification
of PA’s in conjunction with the National board of Medical Examiners. To
maintain their national certification, PA’s must log 100 hours of continuing
medical education every two years and sit for re-certification every six years.
Individuals who meet this intensive criteria and maintain this national
certification are entitled to use the title PA-C. The “C” signifies the
national certification level.
The Nurse Practitioner is a primary care provider who
may practice in a physicians’ office, hospital or long term care setting. According to their practice specialty, these
individuals provide nursing and medical services to individuals, families and
groups. In addition to diagnosing and managing acute episodic and chronic
illnesses, nurse practitioners emphasize health promotion and disease
prevention.
Services offered by the Nurse Practitioner include
but are not limited to ordering, conducting, supervising, and interpreting
diagnostic and laboratory tests, taking patient histories, conducting physical
exams, and prescribing medications and other therapies. Nurse Practitioners practice independently
and in collaboration with physicians and PA’s to diagnose, treat and manage
health problems.
education
and certification of the nurse practitioner
Nurse Practitioners complete a master’s degree along
with specialized course work. Self-directed
continued learning and professional development beyond the formal advanced
education is essential to maintain clinical competency.
