What does a Pediatric Physician Assistant do?
A pediatric physician assistant's role is to assist pediatricians and patients in a medical facility. Their responsibilities revolve around gathering young patients' personal information and medical histories, maintaining and updating records, escorting patients to different rooms, relaying important details to families and guardians, and displaying a positive and friendly attitude to patients. There are also instances when a pediatric physician assistant must run errands, coordinate with other physician assistants, and maintain the cleanliness and sanitation of particular areas.
Pediatric physician assistant responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real pediatric physician assistant resumes:
- Manage general medical problems and medications for inpatient adult and pediatric patients including inpatient rounding, admission and discharge summaries.
- Obtain histories and perform physical examinations for new and establish adult and pediatric patients.
- Compound epidural for pregnant women in labor.
- Excel at maintaining medical records within the EMR.
- Utilize multiple inpatient and outpatient EMR and PACS systems.
- Order and review radiographs, MRI's and electromyographies.
- Assist in the orientation of new staff members in ICU.
- Provide minor surgical services including skin biopsy, suturing, and electrosurgery.
- Assist in central line placement, multiple ACLS codes and reduction of orthopedic dislocations.
- Observe and assist in lumbar puncture, ACLS and BLS protocol, ultrasounds, and casting.
- Observe procedures: curettage and suction of endometrium, laparoscopy, tubal ligation and caesarian section.
- Experience in conventional radiology, CR (computer radiology), and DR (digital radiology).
- Counsele patients on how to take prescribe medications, drug allergies, nutrition, accident and poison prevention.
- Maintain employee files and ensure annual educationaltraining to maintain compliance standards with OSHA, AHCA, CMS, AAAHC.
- Prescribe pre-op and post-op medication.
Pediatric physician assistant skills and personality traits
We calculated that 33% of Pediatric Physician Assistants are proficient in Patients, Internal Medicine, and Pediatric Emergency. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Compassion, and Detail oriented.
We break down the percentage of Pediatric Physician Assistants that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Patients, 33%
Refer Patients to medical specialist or other practitioners if necessary.
- Internal Medicine, 14%
Practice medicine alongside Board Certified Internal Medicine and Family Medicine Physicians to 11,000 active duty service member beneficiaries at the Pentagon.
- Pediatric Emergency, 11%
Provide teaching and supervision of medical residents and students during their inpatient pediatric and pediatric emergency medicine rotations.
- Patient Care, 9%
Trained in traditional therapies and integrative approaches tailored to improve individual patient care.
- EMR, 9%
Excelled at maintaining medical records within the EMR.
- Outpatient Clinic, 3%
Assisted in a predominantly Medicaid outpatient clinic with one primary physician.
Most pediatric physician assistants use their skills in "patients," "internal medicine," and "pediatric emergency" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential pediatric physician assistant responsibilities here:
Communication skills. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a pediatric physician assistant to have is communication skills. Their role and responsibilities require that "physician assistants must explain complex medical issues in a way that patients can understand." Pediatric physician assistants often use communication skills in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "utilize telecommunication and email for patient care and dictate summaries. "
Compassion. Many pediatric physician assistant duties rely on compassion. "physician assistants deal with patients who are sick or injured and who may be in extreme pain or distress," so a pediatric physician assistant will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways pediatric physician assistant responsibilities rely on compassion: "provide consistent, compassionate, and up-to-date medical care of the highest quality to patients from birth to young adult. "
Detail oriented. This is an important skill for pediatric physician assistants to perform their duties. For an example of how pediatric physician assistant responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "physician assistants should be observant and have a strong ability to focus when evaluating and treating patients." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a pediatric physician assistant: "maintained detailed inventory of vaccines; ordered pediatric vaccines and supplies for unit provided physician assistance with all patient care and procedures".
Emotional stability. pediatric physician assistant responsibilities often require "emotional stability." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "physician assistants, particularly those working in surgery or emergency medicine, should work well under pressure." This resume example shows what pediatric physician assistants do with emotional stability on a typical day: "show compassion for patients in order to treat their physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional being. "
Problem-solving skills. Another common skill required for pediatric physician assistant responsibilities is "problem-solving skills." This skill comes up in the duties of pediatric physician assistants all the time, as "physician assistants need to evaluate patients’ symptoms and administer the appropriate treatments." An excerpt from a real pediatric physician assistant resume shows how this skill is central to what a pediatric physician assistant does: "prepare chemical solution, reagents and specimens for microscopic examination, performed the laboratory test, analysis and report findings. "
The three companies that hire the most pediatric physician assistants are:
- Integrity Locums87 pediatric physician assistants jobs
- Sanford Health40 pediatric physician assistants jobs
- Baylor College of Medicine27 pediatric physician assistants jobs
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Compare different pediatric physician assistants
Pediatric physician assistant vs. Midlevel provider
Pain management physicians are medical doctors who diagnose and coordinate treatment while providing care for patients who are experiencing pain. By understanding the physiology of pain, these physicians are required to conduct specialized tests to diagnose complex pain conditions as well as prescribe proper medications and therapies to treat them. They must observe their patients for their ability to function and overall quality of life. Pain management physicians must also work with other healthcare professionals such as physical therapists, physiatrists, and nurses to meet all the needs of their patients.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, pediatric physician assistant responsibilities require skills like "patients," "adhd," "internal medicine," and "pediatric emergency." Meanwhile a typical midlevel provider has skills in areas such as "physical exams," "diagnostic procedures," "emergency room," and "surgery." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Midlevel providers tend to reach higher levels of education than pediatric physician assistants. In fact, midlevel providers are 15.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.5% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Pediatric physician assistant vs. Pain management physician
Obstetrics Gynecology Physician is a specialist doctor in childbirth, pregnancy, and female reproductive health. Their duties include conducting tests such as pelvic exams, breast exams, and pap smears, diagnosing diseases and disorders, carrying out a patient routine check-up, prescribing treatment plans, and monitoring expectant mothers during periods of postpartum, pregnancy, and childbirth. They maintain accurate patient medical records, educate patients on reproductive healthcare and disease detection and prevention. Obstetrics Gynecology Physicians works to keep abreast with the latest innovations, best practice and collaborates with non-medical and medical teams in accomplishing its tasks.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that pediatric physician assistant responsibilities requires skills like "adhd," "pediatric emergency," "outpatient clinic," and "urgent care." But a pain management physician might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "pain management," "interventional pain," "primary care," and "rehabilitation."
On average, pain management physicians earn a higher salary than pediatric physician assistants. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, pain management physicians earn the most pay in the pharmaceutical industry with an average salary of $190,772. Whereas pediatric physician assistants have higher pay in the health care industry, with an average salary of $151,130.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Pain management physicians tend to reach lower levels of education than pediatric physician assistants. In fact, they're 10.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Pediatric physician assistant vs. Obstetrics gynecology physician
Physician extenders are not physicians. However, physician extenders perform a vital task in the overall care of patients. They diagnose and treat medical conditions, document and update patient records, consult patients, and perform physical exams. They may serve either as physician assistants or nurse practitioners. In becoming a physician extender, they must be a registered nurse or must have medical experience by working in the medical field even at a lower level. They need to be a regulatory agency certified and licensed instructor in their region or state.
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, pediatric physician assistants are more likely to have skills like "adhd," "internal medicine," "pediatric emergency," and "acute care." But a obstetrics gynecology physician is more likely to have skills like "ob-gyn," "surgery," "primary care," and "labor delivery."
Obstetrics gynecology physicians earn the best pay in the professional industry, where they command an average salary of $189,968. Pediatric physician assistants earn the highest pay from the health care industry, with an average salary of $151,130.obstetrics gynecology physicians typically earn lower educational levels compared to pediatric physician assistants. Specifically, they're 5.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 7.7% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Pediatric physician assistant vs. Physician extender
Types of pediatric physician assistant
Updated January 8, 2025
