After proper schooling, physician assistants working in
orthopedic surgery find themselves in a rewarding career.
The field of orthopedics examines and treats patients who
have musculoskeletal disorders or injuries. The
musculoskeletal system includes bones, muscles, ligaments,
and tendons, all of which are subject to a variety of
problems. Anyone working as a Physician Assistant (PA) will
become intimately familiar with the workings of this system.
First a two-year educational program must be completed at
an accredited institution, and then the student must take an
exam for certification. The PA in training who has completed
these steps can then enter into an internship at a hospital
and learn the more specific requirements of the job. Interns
receive excellent training, and it is not difficult to find
available internships.
There are certain regulations for maintaining the PA or
Surgical Assistant certification, including continuance of
practice in the field. It is also necessary to be
re-certified every six years, but actively working in the
field should ease the challenge of re-certification.
PAs in this field are professionals who are expected to
understand human anatomy and the musculoskeletal system. As
in any medical field, it is hoped that those involved in the
care of patients will possess a good bedside manner, as well
as an ability to retain professionalism under pressure.
There are often many patients under a doctor’s care, and
the Physician Assistant is there to alleviate some of those
responsibilities. Under the doctor’s guidance, the PA can
take histories, examine new patients, and order diagnostic
tests. A Surgical Assistant will also assist with surgery
and be a key component of post-surgical care.
Corporate employees, athletes, men and women, as well as
children and seniors can all be in need of orthopedic
surgery or treatment. A congenital disorder or a physical
trauma might have caused the problem, and there are also
sports injuries and degenerative diseases to consider. The
parts of the body that can be affected include all the
joints and any part of the skeletal or muscular systems.
It is helpful to understand types of pain that occur in the
joints, such as knees, elbows, ankles, wrists, and so forth.
The foot alone has twenty-six bones and six ligaments, and
because it often supports all of a person’s weight, it can
develop problems. The hand is another very active component
of the human body, and can be subject to everything from
injury to arthritis. Tarsal and carpal tunnel syndromes can
affect the ankles and the wrists, respectively. Our bodies
are filled with bones, joints, muscles, and ligaments that
must be looked after with great care.
There are a number of opportunities in both rural and urban
areas. Also, hospitals and health care specialists
understand that well trained assistants are capable of
working for lower pay than doctors and surgeons.
Nevertheless, it is not difficult for physician assistants
working in orthopedic surgery to earn a fine living. It is
only a matter of gaining the required training, finding
work, and embarking on a satisfying career.
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