Job description Physician Assistant in the North Central Region

Find out what work is like for a physician assistant in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Allied primary health practitioners (NOC 31303).

Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals

Description

Physician assistants and midwives provide primary health care and treatment in conjunction with physicians and in collaboration with other health professionals. Physician assistants provide a range of health services to patients delivering preventive and continuous care toward the management of patients' health. Midwives provide full-course care to women and their babies during the pre- and post-natal period. This unit group also includes professionals, such as genetic counsellors, orthoptists and pathologists’ assistants, who work in collaboration with primary health occupations. Genetic counsellors assess individual or family risk of genetic conditions, and provide information to individuals, families and healthcare providers to promote informed choice. Orthoptists diagnose and treat binocular disorders. Pathologists’ assistants assist at autopsies and examinations of surgical specimens, or perform autopsies under a pathologist’s supervision. Physician assistants usually work under physicians in private practice, including group or team practices, hospitals and clinics. Midwives are employed in hospitals, clinics, birthing centres or in private practice. Genetic counsellors usually work in private practice, hospitals, clinics and research institutes. Orthoptists work under an ophthalmologist, particularly in private practices or clinics. Pathologists’ assistants are usually employed in hospitals and universities.

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Physician assistants
  • Conduct patient interviews, physical assessments and take medical histories
  • Perform or order diagnostic tests and interpret results
  • In consultation with a supervising physician, formulate and implement treatment plans and monitor patients' progress
  • Perform and assist in minor surgery
  • Provide health maintenance education
  • May participate in research activities
  • May prescribe from a limited list of medications.
  • Midwives
  • Provide primary, full-course, care to women and their babies during pregnancy, such as physical examinations, screening and diagnostic tests to monitor the health of mother and baby and make referrals to medical specialists as required
  • Manage labour and spontaneous normal deliveries
  • Care for, assess and monitor the health of newborns and refer infants to appropriate medical services as required
  • Provide advice and guidance regarding care for newborns and young infants.
  • Genetic counsellors
  • Provide information and support to families affected by or at risk of a genetic disorder
  • Gather and analyze family history and inheritance patterns, calculate risks of recurrence, and provide information about genetic testing and related procedures
  • Develop, implement or coordinate action plans and refer individuals and families to other health professionals
  • Design and conduct genetics training programs for other healthcare professionals or the general public
  • May conduct research in the field of medical genetics and genetic counselling.
  • Orthoptists
  • Work alongside ophthalmologists to diagnose and treat eye disorders by performing specialized eye tests to measure and assess defective binocular vision or abnormal eye movement in patients
  • Prescribe treatment such as eye exercises or patching regimens.
  • Pathologists' assistants
  • Prepare for autopsies by obtaining patients' medical records and arranging for radiographic examinations
  • Prepare, assist with or perform autopsies and surgical specimen examinations under pathologists' supervision
  • Assist with preparation of provisional autopsy report
  • Dissect, examine, weigh, photograph and X-ray organs and specimens, collect tissue samples for chemical analysis and record findings
  • Discard specimens according to established safety procedures
  • Clean and maintain instruments, equipment and supplies
  • Develop and maintain processes for laboratory quality control
  • May prepare bodies for release to funeral homes following completion of autopsies
  • May supervise and train junior resident pathologists and morgue attendants.

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 31303), and a list of similar occupations:

  • genetic counsellor
  • midwife
  • orthoptist
  • pathology assistant
  • physician assistant

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Physician assistants, midwives and allied health professionals in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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