Physician Assistants (PAs) are medical providers who are licensed to diagnose and treat illness and disease and to prescribe medication for patients.

PAs work in physician offices, hospitals, and clinics in collaboration with a licensed physician. Because of their advanced education in general medicine, modeled after physician education, PAs can treat patients with significant autonomy within the physician/PA relationship. In the primary care setting, PAs can provide almost all the clinical services that physicians provide, including performing physical exams, diagnosing and treating illnesses, and prescribing medications.