In the United States,
Physician Assistants (PAs) are non-physician
clinicians licensed to practice medicine with a
physician's supervision. This supervision, in most
cases, need not be direct or on site and many PAs
practice in remote or underserved areas in satellite
clinics. PAs can treat patients and, in most states,
prescribe medicine, and in some states in the US they
carry a DEA number that gives them authority to
prescribe controlled medications like narcotics. PAs in
surgical practices also serve as first assists in
surgery. PAs provide medical services that are
reimbursed under Medicare and third party insurances.
Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners both
provide similar services in most states, the major
distinction being that nurse practitioners are
registered nurses by trade. Both are also known as
Advanced Practice Clinicians (APCs) or mid-level
practitioners (MLPs).
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