The Role of Physician Assistants and Advance Practice Nurses

Physician Assistants (PAs)
At Summit Medical Group, physician assistants (PAs) work closely with physicians to enhance patient care and increase patient satisfaction. As effective, versatile, licensed health care professionals who have had intensive training in medicine and clinical rotations, PAs:

• Take patient histories and perform physical examinations
• Diagnose and treat certain health problems
• Order and administer tests and interpret results
• Coordinate patient care
• Provide education and counseling to patients about medication and healthy lifestyle changes
• Help families and physicians communicate
• Write discharge summaries

PAs care for many of the same patients as physicians, although physicians typically handle more complicated medical cases. As an important part of the Summit Medical Group health care teams, PAs never hesitate to consult with or refer patients to a physician when necessary.

Because PAs ensure that patients receive the personal attention they need, they significantly contribute to patient satisfaction. In addition, by providing individual patient care and counseling, PAs enable physicians to do research, focus on data from tests, and handle the most difficult cases and follow-up care.

For more information about physician assistants, please click on this logo:

Advance Practice Nurses (APNs)
The term advance practice nurse (APN) refers to nurse practitioners (NPs), certified registered nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists, and certified nurse midwives. APNs have advanced training in a wide range of clinical skills, diagnostic reasoning, and therapeutic interventions to treat and manage patients with acute and chronic illnesses. In addition, they provide preventive care and help educate patients and their families about medical conditions and ways to maintain and improve health.

At Summit Medical Group, APNs:

• Take patient histories
• Perform physical examinations
• Order tests and therapies
• Interpret diagnostic tests
• Formulate diagnoses and implement interventions, treatments, and plans of care
• Collaborate with patients, their family members, and other health care professionals to optimize care
• Prescribe certain medications
• Initiate referrals to and coordinate care with other health care professionals

APNs often evaluate and document patients’ progress in achieving health goals. They are advocates for patients and their families. Nurse practitioners work closely with physicians to provide the highest standard of care for patients.