hot jobs: Physician Assistant

In the past two years the U.S. economy lost more than 7 million jobs. Currently, the U.S. labor force is still almost 10 per cent of people are unemployed. Because of the economic recovery is weak, people close to double-digit unemployment rate forecast this year and next may be difficult in a significant decline. However, even such a slump in the job market situation, there are some very optimistic about the employment prospects of the industry. Voice of America program is series of reports on financial aspect "future hot jobs" in the industry to introduce you to these different work. Today, introduce you to physician assistants.

Physician assistants (physician assistants) and medical care, or nurse easily confused. In fact, it is second only to medical doctors the line requesting the job.

Physician assistants work closer to doctors, they can do physical examination, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, but also a prescription, do minor surgery. Although most of the needs of physician assistants work under the guidance of doctors, but in the absence of physicians in rural areas or poor urban areas, physician assistants are often responsible for the physician's responsibility.

Compared with other health care workers, physician assistants be considered a relatively young profession. Physician Assistant United States Institute of industry organizations (American Academy of Physician Assistants) to contact Howard Glass, vice president of Los (Howard Glassroth) said that the occupation appeared only after the Vietnam War.

He said: "The career about 40 years now. In fact, some of it is only after the Vietnam War. Had some trained military medical personnel wish to remain engaged in medical work after military service, some universities started to provide this training and education. "

Douglas Ross said the first physician assistant students are three retired naval special forces medic. Them in 1967 from Duke University (Duke University) graduate. The university was the first physician assistant program designed to provide the American University.

Since then, many American medical schools of the University opened the Physician Assistant profession, including Yale, Stanford and other schools. Physician assistants need to obtain a master's degree, usually requiring 27 months of professional education.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the nation in 2010, about 74,800 physician assistants, more than half the doctors clinic, about a quarter worked in general hospitals, there are many people at the same clinic for several .

Bureau of Labor Statistics that employment growth in physician assistant is a promising work; estimated that from 2010 to 2018, demand in this area of employment growth of 39%.

American College of Physician Assistant Douglas Ross said that in the continuing shortage of physicians, the profession is indeed very popular. In addition, the physician assistant's salary is also quite attractive.

He said: "(Physician Assistant) paid quite well. In 2009, the major employer-paid full-time clinical physician assistants, the average wage slightly more than 93,000 yuan. So, it can provide a good standard of living."

Although physician assistants earn as much as doctors, but Ross said Glass, whose work is relatively simple, like doctors often have to cope as business administration, so you can more easily arrange for private affairs. He said that, in fact, physicians and physician assistants working relationship is quite good, one reason for the physician assistant can often be the work of physicians from the heavy "liberate" them so that they can get out to meet the administrative and educational affairs.

Now, more and more young people to show interest in this occupation. Douglas Ross said, and started teaching high school courses related to health care, and, that they come into contact with physician assistants in the clinic, the realized that it would be a very good career choice.

However, to enter the industry, first of all have to accept this professional training. Currently more than 140 universities nationwide physician assistant degree. And physicians alike, physician assistant is a demanding profession. Douglas Ross said, they not only need certification exams, but even through it is not once and for all, because every 6 years on the need to re-certification; In addition, the physician assistant every two years also needs to accumulate 100 hours of continuing medical education (CME).