Physician assistants are health care professionals licensed, or in the case of those employed by the federal government they are credentialed, to practice medicine with physician supervision.  As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret test, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and write prescriptions.  Within the physician-PA relationship, physician assistants exercise autonomy in medical decision making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services.  A PA's practice may also include education, research, and administrative services.

Compliments of the American Academy of Physician Assistants