If a high paying position within the healthcare community is interesting to you, you may want to look into becoming an Orthopedic Physician Assistant. Physician Assistants in any area of healthcare are a valuable part of the healthcare team and therefore command good salaries. At the same time these professionals are reducing the costs associated with good healthcare because they save time for patients as well as doctors.

One of the reasons Orthopedic Physician Assistants are able to help reduce the cost of health care is that they attend to the ordinary needs of patients which leaves higher paid physicians to work with the more needy clients. This also serves to reduce the amount of time patients have to spend waiting to be seen by a professional. Since Physician Assistants earn less than a licensed doctor, the savings is passed throughout the healthcare system. Here is some information which may help you decide whether you would like to pursue a career in this field of healthcare.

What Orthopedic Physician Assistants Do

Physician Assistants work under the supervision of a licensed physician. They examine patients, diagnose illnesses, order tests, communicate effectively with both the doctor and patient, and prescribe treatment including any medications required. They command more in terms of compensation than others in the healthcare field because of the many services they provide. Below are additional duties performed by Orthopedic Physician Assistants.
  • Order appropriate tests like lab workups, ECGs, and x-rays
  • Gains an understanding of a patient’s condition by doing a physical exam
  • Reviews patient medical histories, helps them understand treatment plans, and communicated effectively
  • Administers therapeutic procedures like sewing up wounds, infection management, and giving immunizations
  • Assists during surgeries as well as other medical procedures
  • Provides supervision for technicians
Traits of Orthopedic Physician Assistants

Physician Assistants understand that they will be working in high pressure situations where they might have to remain on their feet for extended periods. They also understand that they may have to lift patients which requires muscle strength. This makes it necessary to be strong both mentally and physically with great endurance.

An Orthopedic Physician Assistant as well as others in this field of healthcare must have nerves of steel because they must be able to maintain steady hands during the performance of their duties. Shaky hands can make it look like you are not confident in your ability to perform your duties.

Orthopedic Physician Assistant Salary

The anticipated salary of most Physician Assistants is somewhere around $90,000 per year. Sometimes sign on bonuses apply and others can expect performance bonuses as well which can be as much as $20,000. There are many other benefits when one is working in this healthcare field such as retirement benefits, vacation pay, malpractice insurance and others.

After five to ten years, Orthopedic Physician Assistants can expect to earn in the area of $150,000.

If this all sounds attractive to you, and you feel that you can meet the physical and mental challenges of such a position, you may want to run not walk to the nearest registration center and apply to an accredited program.