Where do PAs “draw the line” as far as what they can treat and what a physician can treat?
What a physician assistant does varies with training, experience, and state law. In addition, the scope of the PA’s practice corresponds to the supervising physician’s practice. In general, a physician assistant will see many of the same types of patients as the physician. Referral to the physician, or close consulting between the patient-PA-physician, is done for unusual or hard to manage cases and to ensure continuity of care by both the PA and the physician. Physician assistants are taught to “know our limits” and refer to physicians appropriately. It is an important part of PA training.
