According to the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), a PA is a nationally certified and state-licensed medical professional. PAs practice medicine on healthcare teams with physicians and other providers. They practice in all medical specialties and prescribe medication in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the majority of the U.S. territories and the uniformed services. PAs work in collaboration with physicians and other providers as part of
the healthcare team to provide high-quality medical care to patients. Though the duties of a PA can vary based on their practice setting, experience, and chosen
specialty, PAs are trained to perform many of the same tasks as their physician counterparts, including: (1) taking medical history; (2) performing a physical exam; (3) ordering and interpreting laboratory and imaging tests; (4) diagnosing and treating acute and chronic diseases; (5) counseling patients; (6) a assisting in simple and complex surgery; (7) writing prescriptions; and (8) rounding on patients in hospitals, nursing homes, and other settings.