{"id":8761,"date":"2025-10-31T00:07:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-31T08:07:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/?p=8761"},"modified":"2025-10-30T11:35:51","modified_gmt":"2025-10-30T19:35:51","slug":"a-day-in-the-life-of-a-pa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-pa","title":{"rendered":"A Day in the Life of a PA"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_80 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">In This Article<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-pa\/#Pre-Charting_Let_the_Fun_Begin\" >Pre-Charting: Let the Fun Begin!<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-pa\/#Time_To_Get_Started\" >Time To Get Started<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-pa\/#Did_Someone_Say_Procedures\" >Did Someone Say Procedures?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-pa\/#So_Why_Family_Med\" >So, Why Family Med?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-pa\/#Key_Takeaways\" >Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-pa\/#About_the_Author\" >About the Author<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Ever wonder what it&#8217;s like to be able to <strong>care for people of every age and every stage of life<\/strong>? Let&#8217;s explore what an <strong>average day as a family medicine PA<\/strong> looks like!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A <strong>physician associate (PA)<\/strong> is a <strong>qualified healthcare provider<\/strong> with a <strong>general understanding of medicine<\/strong> and can provide the <strong>same healthcare services as other clinicians<\/strong> to their patients. As the profession grows and as <strong>healthcare needs expand<\/strong>, more and more PAs are entering the realm of <strong>primary care<\/strong>, including <strong>family medicine<\/strong>, like me! Although no one day is truly average for me, here&#8217;s an overview of what my <strong>office days<\/strong> look like.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Pre-Charting_Let_the_Fun_Begin\"><\/span>Pre-Charting: Let the Fun Begin!<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the skills I learned in <strong>PA school<\/strong> that I use in my job as a <strong>family medicine PA<\/strong> is <strong>&#8220;pre-charting,&#8221;<\/strong> which includes reviewing the <strong>charts of any patients<\/strong> I&#8217;m scheduled to see that day, along with any <strong>reports or labs<\/strong> that came in overnight for them. (<strong>Tip:<\/strong> Doing this not only prepares you for upcoming visits but also <strong>impresses your preceptor!<\/strong>) And patients are often delighted to hear you remember something from their past visit that they didn&#8217;t expect you to recall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Time_To_Get_Started\"><\/span>Time To Get Started<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I usually start seeing patients around <strong>8 AM<\/strong>. My morning usually begins with <strong>annual physical exams<\/strong>, which typically take me about <strong>20 to 30 minutes<\/strong> to complete. I review any <strong>specialty notes, hospitalizations, or life events<\/strong> that the patient experienced over the past year. It&#8217;s also a great time to review any <strong>medication changes<\/strong>, which are often overlooked at sick appointments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After I&#8217;ve completed physicals for the day, I move on to other types of appointments \u2014 think <strong>sick visits, hospital follow-ups, and even some procedures<\/strong>. My favorite part of the day is any time I get to <strong>help a patient who has been struggling with their health<\/strong> \u2014 it&#8217;s always rewarding to be part of the <strong>puzzle in helping that patient succeed<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Did_Someone_Say_Procedures\"><\/span>Did Someone Say Procedures?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As someone working in <strong>primary care<\/strong>, I often hear the stereotype that <strong>family medicine doesn&#8217;t involve many procedures<\/strong>, but that couldn&#8217;t be further from the truth! In an average week, I perform a variety of <strong>medical procedures<\/strong>, including <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/learn\/Cervical_cancer:_Pathology_review\">Pap smears<\/a>, staple removals, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/learn\/Abscesses\">abscess drainages<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/a-quick-history-of-vaccines-from-smallpox-to-covid\">immunizations<\/a><\/strong>, and even <strong>specialty procedures<\/strong> such as <strong>biopsies<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Out of all the procedures I do, my favorite would have to be <strong>Pap smears<\/strong>. As someone who <strong>champions reproductive justice<\/strong>, it&#8217;s very important to me that these exams are conducted with <strong>dignity and respect for the patient<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"So_Why_Family_Med\"><\/span>So, Why Family Med?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you&#8217;d asked me a year ago where I would be in medicine, one of the last answers would&#8217;ve been <strong>family medicine<\/strong> (oh, the irony)! What really changed my mind was my <strong>school<\/strong>; being able to <strong>care for patients at every stage of life<\/strong> and with a <strong>variety of conditions<\/strong> allowed me to explore not only my <strong>passion for medicine<\/strong> but also how I could <strong>best care for different types of patients<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is truly an <strong>honor to care for patients of all types<\/strong> and to <strong>provide healthcare to those who need it most<\/strong>. I wouldn&#8217;t want to do any other job in the world!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Key_Takeaways\"><\/span>Key Takeaways<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Family medicine PAs provide care for patients of all ages and health stages.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pre-charting helps prepare for efficient and personalized patient visits.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Family medicine involves diverse procedures beyond common stereotypes.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Building patient relationships is rewarding and central to care.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The variety in family medicine fuels passion and professional fulfillment.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"About_the_Author\"><\/span>About the Author<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/madison-donnelly-1677a61b9\/\">Madison Donnelly<\/a><\/strong> is a family medicine PA located in rural New York. She&#8217;s especially passionate about pediatrics and gynecology, and she aspires to make a difference in PA education, leadership, and advocacy. Outside of the classroom, you can find her baking sweet treats, enjoying a nice cup of coffee, and watching Disney movies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nonsolus.elsevier.net\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\" src=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/01\/Blog_Display_Ads_GENERAL2_2023.png?w=700\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4405\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/01\/Blog_Display_Ads_GENERAL2_2023.png 700w, https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/01\/Blog_Display_Ads_GENERAL2_2023.png?resize=300,107 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Try <strong>Osmosis from Elsevier<\/strong> today! Access your\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.osmosis.org\/plans\"><strong>free trial<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and find out why millions of current and future <strong>clinicians <\/strong>and <strong>caregivers<\/strong> love learning with us.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Explore what a typical day looks like for a family medicine PA; from pre-charting and annual exams to procedures and helping patients across all life stages.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":188,"featured_media":8762,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[35,37,46],"tags":[2117,2113,2108,193,2115,2114,2116,2109,1348,149,2118,2070,2110,2111,2112],"class_list":["post-8761","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-osmosis-health-leadership-initiative-ohli","category-pa","category-student-stories","tag-clinic-workflow","tag-family-medicine-career","tag-family-medicine-pa","tag-healthcare-careers","tag-healthcare-provider","tag-medical-procedures","tag-pa-daily-routine","tag-pa-procedures","tag-pap-smear","tag-patient-care","tag-patient-follow-up","tag-physician-assistant","tag-pre-charting","tag-primary-care","tag-reproductive-justice"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.6 - 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