National Physician Assistant Week takes place every year from October 6 through October 12. Physician assistants (PAs) are vital members of the team of professionals who treat patients in today’s complex health care setting. With thousands of hours of medical training, PAs are versatile and collaborative while providing high-quality, safe patient care in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
At Cooper, our PAs are a vital part of our clinical team and perform many essential duties, including:
- Taking medical histories
- Conducting physical exams
- Diagnosing and treating illnesses
- Ordering and interpreting tests
- Developing treatment plans
- Prescribing medications
- Counseling on preventive care
- Performing procedures
- Assisting in surgeries
- Making rounds in hospitals and nursing homes
- Conducting clinical research
Cooper is proud to have more than 100 PAs represented throughout the organization in both the ambulatory and hospital settings and in specialty areas including, but not limited to, Primary Care, Hospital Medicine, Critical Care, Emergency Department, Pediatrics, Neurology, Cardiology, Surgical Services, Orthopedics, Addiction Medicine, and MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper.
Thank you to our PAs for the compassionate care you provide to our patients and their families, and for your commitment to excellence and teamwork.