physicianâs assistant
Quick Summary
A physician assistant (PA) is a healthcare professional certified to offer fundamental medical services, typically under the guidance of a licensed physician. This role, also known as PA, emerged in the mid-20th century, with the term "physician assistant" first appearing in 1958 and "physician's assistant" in 1970. PAs play a crucial role in providing patient care within the healthcare system.12
Summary created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
2 Britannica Sources
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.