Patients at Risk: The Rise of the Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant in Healthcare exposes a vast conspiracy of political maneuvering and corporate greed that has led to the replacement of qualified medical professionals by lesser trained practitioners. As corporations seek to save money and government agencies aim to increase constituent access, minimum qualifications for the guardians of our nation’s healthcare continue to decline—with deadly consequences. This is a story that has not yet been told, and one that has dangerous repercussions for all Americans. With the rate of nurse practitioner and physician assistant graduates exceeding that of physician graduates, if you are not already being treated by a non-physician, chances are, you soon will be. While advocates for these professions insist that research shows that they can provide the same care as physicians, patients do not know the whole truth: that there are no credible scientific studies to support the safety and efficacy of non-physicians practicing without physician supervision. Written by two physicians who have witnessed the decline of medical expertise over the last twenty years, this data-driven book interweaves heart-rending true patient stories with hard data, showing how patients have been sacrificed for profit by the substitution of non-physician practitioners. Adding a dimension neglected by modern healthcare critiques such as An American Sickness, this book provides a roadmap for patients to protect themselves from medical harm. WORDS OF PRAISE and REVIEWS Al-Agba and Bernard tell a frightening story that insiders know all too well. As mega corporations push for efficiency and tout consumer focused retail services, American healthcare is being dumbed down to the point of no return. It's a story that many media outlets are missing and one that puts you and your family's health at real risk. --John Irvine, Deductible Media Laced with actual patient cases, the book’s data and patterns of large corporations replacing physicians with non-physician practitioners, despite the vast difference in training is enlightening and astounding. The authors' extensively researched book methodically lays out the problems of our changing medical care landscape and solutions to ensure quality care. --Marilyn M. Singleton, MD, JD A masterful job of bringing to light a rapidly growing issue of what should be great concern to all of us: the proliferation of non-physician practitioners that work predominantly inside algorithms rather than applying years of training, clinical knowledge, and experience. Instead of a patient-first mentality, we are increasingly met with the sad statement of Profits Over Patients, echoed by hospitals and health insurance companies. --John M. Chamberlain, MHA, LFACHE, Board Chairman, Citizen Health A must read for patients attempting to navigate today’s healthcare marketplace. --Brian Wilhelmi MD, JD, FASA

Explore the past, present, and future of PA practice. The authors, noted educators, researchers, and practitioners, draw on extensive research to trace the evolution of the PA’s roles and responsibilities in the delivery of health care services. Their presentation of historical content balanced with discussions of the ethical, educational, legislative, and economic forces that are shaping that the profession makes this a contemporary classroom tool for PA’s learning their field and their roles.

Entering its 6th edition, Physician Assistant: A Guide to Clinical Practice is the only text that covers all aspects of the physician assistant profession, the PA curriculum, and the PA's role in clinical practice. It is designed as a highly visual and practical resource to be used across the spectrum of lifelong learning, enabling students and practicing PAs to thrive in a rapidly changing health care system. - Teaches how to prepare for each core clinical rotation and common electives, as well as how to work with atypical patient populations such as homeless patients and patients with disabilities. - A succinct, bulleted writing style; convenient tables; practical case studies; and clinical application questions throughout enable you to master key concepts and clinical applications. - Helps you master all the core competencies needed for certification or recertification. - Addresses all six Physician Assistant Competencies, as well as providing guidance for the newly graduated PA entering practice. - Includes quick-use resources, such as objectives and key points sections for each chapter, tip boxes with useful advice, abundant tables and images, and 134 updated case studies. - Features chapters for the 7 core clinical rotations and 5 common electives, with key guidance on how to prepare effectively and what to expect. - Provides updated health policy information, expanded information about international programs, cultural competencies, and pearls and pitfalls on working internationally as a PA. - Outlines the basic principles of Interprofessional Education – an important new trend in medical education nationally. - New chapters cover: Maximizing Your Education, Future of the Profession, Principles of PA Education, Managing Stress and Burnout, and many other topics. - Expert Consult eBook version included with purchase. This enhanced eBook experience allows you to search all of the text, figures, images, and references from the book on a variety of devices.

The first resource of its kind, Palliative and Serious Illness Patient Management for Physician Assistants provides a fundamental framework for physician assistants and physician associates to incorporate palliative care medicine, including end-of-life care, into their practice. The book focuses on pharmacologic and integrative medical therapeutic modalities, as well as the evaluation and treatment of special populations, which reflects the reality of a physician assistant's day-to-day job. It uses a patient-centered approach to address the comprehensive management of serious illness patients, as well as their designated families, significant others, caregivers, and health care providers. Chapters are organized into six sections that cover the essential aspects of care, symptom management, and transitioning care at the end-of-life. This book is ideal for physician assistant trainers (didactic or clinical), students, and practicing clinicians who seek to enhance their communication and medical skills in the treatment of all seriously illness patient populations in any specialty, and in the management of their symptoms at any stage of their disease or condition.

The only textbook for PA students by PA educators that covers everything you need to know for your clinical medicine courses. This groundbreaking clinical textbook designed specifically for physician assistant students was developed by PA educators to ensure that you have the exact information you need to succeed in your challenging clinical medicine courses. Designed with the unique PA curriculum in mind, Clinical Medicine for Physician Assistants addresses current ARC-PA standards, providing you with a single go-to resource for all the topics you'll need to master. Organized by body system, this text provides the in-depth, head-to-toe foundation you'll need as you prepare to move into clinical practice. Not only does it cover hundreds of clinical conditions, but it also provides important insights on how to manage the most common chief complaints, system by system, with useful algorithms to guide you through patient visits. Chapters include a digestible and methodical review of conditions, including pathophysiology, etiology, history, signs and symptoms, physical exam, and diagnosis details for each. Also included are treatment options, patient education, and special considerations for various patient populations. Additionally, you'll find key points at the end of each chapter, along with knowledge checks to help you synthesize and apply what you learned. Key Features: The first clinical medicine textbook developed for PAs by PAs specifically for the PA curriculum Designed to reflect current ARC-PA competencies and standards for clinical medicine courses Covers all the clinical topics on the current NCCPA PANCE blueprint and more Includes chapters on surgery, abuse, care of the LGBTQ+ patient population, and preventive medicine More than 300 four-color illustrations, dozens of algorithms, and 600 useful tables and boxes to facilitate learning Key points and knowledge checks to reinforce learning Useful guidance for navigating common chief complaints Robust instructor resources, including an instructor manual, PowerPoint lectures, case studies, and a test bank with more than 1,000 questions

A memoir of the author's first years as a physicians' assistant in Nebraska.

From the Back Cover: Your guide to the physician assistant career. Finally, the ultimate guide to becoming a physician assistant is all in one book. Here is everything you need to know, from choosing the right PA program, to experiencing the diversity of PA specialty practices, to understanding the issues that the profession faces as it continues to grow. As health care delivery changes, and the general population ages, the PA profession will become an even more essential component of the physician-led health care team. Learn how you can make this your career and how you can become part of this outstanding profession.