Physician assistant, internal medicine vs physician extender

The differences between physician assistants, internal medicine and physician extenders can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a physician extender has an average salary of $244,718, which is higher than the $125,736 average annual salary of a physician assistant, internal medicine.

The top three skills for a physician assistant, internal medicine include patients, primary care and diagnosis. The most important skills for a physician extender are patients, patient care, and medical care.

Physician assistant, internal medicine vs physician extender overview

	Physician Assistant, Internal Medicine	Physician Extender
Yearly salary	$125,736	$244,718
Hourly rate	$60.45	$117.65
Growth rate	28%	28%
Number of jobs	60,177	73,599
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 48%	Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age	39	39
Years of experience	-	-

What does a physician assistant, internal medicine do?

A Physician Assistant supports the doctors work and actively facilitates patients recovery. An Internal Medicine uses nonsurgical approaches to treat medical conditions that affect adults.

What does a physician extender do?

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.

Physician assistant, internal medicine vs physician extender salary

Physician assistants, internal medicine and physician extenders have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Physician Assistant, Internal Medicine	Physician Extender
Average salary	$125,736	$244,718
Salary range	Between $76,000 And $207,000	Between $125,000 And $476,000
Highest paying City	Medford, MA	Des Moines, IA
Highest paying state	Vermont	New Mexico
Best paying company	Mayo Clinic	UnitedHealth Group
Best paying industry	Health Care	Professional

Differences between physician assistant, internal medicine and physician extender education

There are a few differences between a physician assistant, internal medicine and a physician extender in terms of educational background:

	Physician Assistant, Internal Medicine	Physician Extender
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 48%	Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common major	Physician Assistant	Athletic Training
Most common college	Duke University	University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Physician assistant, internal medicine vs physician extender demographics

Here are the differences between physician assistants, internal medicine' and physician extenders' demographics:

	Physician Assistant, Internal Medicine	Physician Extender
Average age	39	39
Gender ratio	Male, 36.6% Female, 63.4%	Male, 35.4% Female, 64.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 5.5% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% Asian, 11.5% White, 66.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 5.8% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 12.7% Asian, 9.5% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between physician assistant, internal medicine and physician extender duties and responsibilities

Physician assistant, internal medicine example responsibilities.

Manage continuity of care for complex general internal patients with limit resources-diabetes, hypertension, psychiatric, and homeless.
Assess and treat acute/chronic medical problems and provide education for prevention and/or progression of diagnosis to patients and families.
x-ray review, medication review & administration, EKG, telephone triage
Perform wellness exams from adolescent through geriatric patients and educate patients on lifestyle modifications and chronic diseases as appropriate.
Work in an outpatient orthopedic clinic with emphasis on physical medicine, rehabilitation of both chronic and acute orthopedic conditions.
Monitor immunization, ACLS, BLS and other documents relate to the clinical students and ensure they are up to date.

Physician extender example responsibilities.

Work closely with patients to manage their depression and anxiety beginning with initial diagnosis to med-initiation and follow-up care.
Render emergency medical treatment and transport patients.
Initial reading of EKG's.
Assess patients' symptoms while conducting initial injury evaluation.
Work in an outpatient orthopedic clinic with emphasis on physical medicine, rehabilitation of both chronic and acute orthopedic conditions.
Perform wound care.perform laceration repair including suturing.

Physician assistant, internal medicine vs physician extender skills

Common physician assistant, internal medicine skills

Patients, 36%
Primary Care, 7%
Diagnosis, 5%
Acute Care, 3%
Physical Exams, 3%
Rehabilitation, 3%

Common physician extender skills

Patients, 43%
Patient Care, 15%
Medical Care, 5%
Rehabilitation, 4%
Physical Therapy, 3%
Clinical Care, 3%

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Physician Assistant, Internal Medicine
Physician Assistant, Internal Medicine vs Physician Extender

Updated January 8, 2025

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