Physician assistant

Physician assistants (PAs) are relatively new health care providers in the Netherlands. Their duties and responsibilities fall between those of a medical specialist and a nurse. They reduce physicians' workload by taking on a range of tasks.

What education does a physician assistant have?

Before becoming a physician assistant, a person must complete a university of applied sciences program in health care, such as physiotherapy or nursing, and have several years of work experience. They then complete the physician assistant program, which provides further specialization in a medical field such as orthopaedics, rheumatology or internal medicine. Physician assistants always work under a physician's supervision.

What does a physician assistant do?

A physician assistant performs various tasks, giving the physician more time for other matters. An appointment may therefore be scheduled with a physician assistant instead of a physician. Depending on the specialty, duties and responsibilities include:

• Holding clinics.
• Performing physical or additional medical examinations.
• Preparing a treatment plan.
• Performing minor medical procedures such as injections, catheterizations and aspirations.
• Assisting with surgery.
• Prescribing medication.
• Providing emergency care.
• Coordinating patient care.
• Providing patient education and educating health care staff.
• Developing protocols and guidelines to improve care.
• Contributing to scientific research.

Where does a physician assistant work?

Physician assistants work in hospitals, nursing homes, residential care homes and mental health care institutions. A physician assistant may also work in a family practice, but this is not the same as a medical receptionist. The medical receptionist's duties are much more limited.