Physician extender vs hospitalist physician assistant

The differences between physician extenders and hospitalist physician assistants 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 $142,373 average annual salary of a hospitalist physician assistant.

The top three skills for a physician extender include patients, patient care and medical care. The most important skills for a hospitalist physician assistant are patients, acls, and acute care.

Physician extender vs hospitalist physician assistant overview

	Physician Extender	Hospitalist Physician Assistant
Yearly salary	$244,718	$142,373
Hourly rate	$117.65	$68.45
Growth rate	28%	28%
Number of jobs	73,599	41,862
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Master's Degree, 41%
Average age	39	39
Years of experience	-	-

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.

What does a hospitalist physician assistant do?

A hospitalist physician assistant helps doctors treat patients in a hospital or clinic. They are required to assess and admit patients. Their work environment can be likened to an emergency room, with the difference being that it is for inpatients in a hospital. This position requires decisiveness and strong customer service skills.

Physician extender vs hospitalist physician assistant salary

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

	Physician Extender	Hospitalist Physician Assistant
Average salary	$244,718	$142,373
Salary range	Between $125,000 And $476,000	Between $83,000 And $242,000
Highest paying City	Des Moines, IA	Albuquerque, NM
Highest paying state	New Mexico	Vermont
Best paying company	UnitedHealth Group	Mayo Clinic
Best paying industry	Professional	Non Profits

Differences between physician extender and hospitalist physician assistant education

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

	Physician Extender	Hospitalist Physician Assistant
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 59%	Master's Degree, 41%
Most common major	Athletic Training	Physician Assistant
Most common college	University of Michigan - Ann Arbor	Duke University

Physician extender vs hospitalist physician assistant demographics

Here are the differences between physician extenders' and hospitalist physician assistants' demographics:

	Physician Extender	Hospitalist Physician Assistant
Average age	39	39
Gender ratio	Male, 35.4% Female, 64.6%	Male, 33.2% Female, 66.8%
Race ratio	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%	Black or African American, 5.4% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 11.9% Asian, 11.4% White, 67.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	12%	12%

Differences between physician extender and hospitalist physician assistant duties and responsibilities

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.

Hospitalist physician assistant example responsibilities.

Manage preoperative orthopedic patients, patients in the post anesthesia care unit and postoperative patients.
Manage complex treatment regimens following diagnosis with medication alterations to improve overall morbidity and mortality.
Perform patient history and physicals, chronic illness maintenance, medication monitoring, routine health maintenance, lab and EKG interpretation
Cover ICU, Med-Surg, cardiology, oncology and general medicine floors.
Perform basic procedures such as suturing, splinting, and gynecological exams.
Post surgical ICU which includes the continual critical and noncritical care in the post surgical ICU.

Physician extender vs hospitalist physician assistant skills

Common physician extender skills

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

Common hospitalist physician assistant skills

Patients, 41%
Acls, 6%
Acute Care, 6%
Surgery, 4%
Internal Medicine, 3%
Medical Care, 3%

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Physician Extender
Physician Extender vs Hospitalist Physician Assistant

Updated January 8, 2025

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