physician associate

7

I've heard a lot of mixed opinions on physician associates and I'm not sure what to believe as I was thinking about doing a physician associate degree but I've heard they're not valued in the industry and jobs are quite limited. Would it be better to try for graduate entry medicine or another path?

Reply 1

$hadow

13

Original post

by ridhashah

I've heard a lot of mixed opinions on physician associates and I'm not sure what to believe as I was thinking about doing a physician associate degree but I've heard they're not valued in the industry and jobs are quite limited. Would it be better to try for graduate entry medicine or another path?

Physician associate currently do have some issues in the UK which are well known, related to:

1.

Regulation and Professional Recognition - related to not yet being fully regulated by the General Medical Council (GMC)

2.

Scope of Practice - namely restrictions on prescribing medications and ordering certain diagnostic tests

3.

Lack of Funding for Jobs and Employment

4.

Lack of Public and Professional Awareness

5.

Inconsistency in Training and Education

6.

Difficult Integration into MDT due to `ambiguous` roles and responsibilities

7.

Salary and Career Progression - typically lower salaries when compared to responsibilities of other professionals

Simply put....

If you want to be a totally autonomous clinician, don't mind more responsibility and academic pressure/workload, want more short term job security, and want higher earning potential, go the doctor route.

If you want to have less responsibility, more short term job uncertainty, less competition in applying and less academic pressure/workload, go the physician associate route.

(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 2

imazami

OP

7

Original post

by $hadow

Physician associate currently do have some issues in the UK which are well known, related to:

1.

Regulation and Professional Recognition - related to not yet being fully regulated by the General Medical Council (GMC)

2.

Scope of Practice - namely restrictions on prescribing medications and ordering certain diagnostic tests

3.

Lack of Funding for Jobs and Employment

4.

Lack of Public and Professional Awareness

5.

Inconsistency in Training and Education

6.

Difficult Integration into MDT due to `ambiguous` roles and responsibilities

7.

Salary and Career Progression - typically lower salaries when compared to responsibilities of other professionals

Simply put....
If you want to be a totally autonomous clinician, don't mind more responsibility and academic pressure/workload, want more short term job security, and want higher earning potential, go the doctor route.
If you want to have less responsibility, more short term job uncertainty, less competition in applying and less academic pressure/workload, go the physician associate route.

I still have 2 years left of my undergraduate degree before I go either route, do you think the physician associate will become a better option by then and more respected (like in the USA) or does it seem like a long shot.

thank you for your reply :smile:

Reply 3

$hadow

13

Original post

by ridhashah

I still have 2 years left of my undergraduate degree before I go either route, do you think the physician associate will become a better option by then and more respected (like in the USA) or does it seem like a long shot.
thank you for your reply :smile:

I am doubtful the government and GMC will sort all these issues in 2 years, but it would be wise to keep a close eye on the situation and make your decision closer to the time, maybe?

physician associate

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