Since they often serve as a patient’s principal healthcare provider, it’s likely that we all have a Physician Assistant in our lives to thank. That’s certainly true at OrthoCarolina where we call 120 PAs teammates, making OrthoCarolina one of the largest private employers of PAs in the nation.
While their work deserves to be celebrated day in and day out, we give special attention to our PAs during National PA Week October 6-12.
Here’s everything you need to know as you help us celebrate:
PAs Keep Us Healthy
Across the US, PAs clock more than 400 million patient interactions per year. These hardworking medical professionals do it all from making diagnoses and prescribing medications to developing and managing treatment plans.
Patients trust our PAs and with good reason. After they receive a bachelor’s degree they enter an additional three-year program, receive certification and complete countless hours of continuing education each year.
The First PAs were Navy Hospital Corpsmen
In the 1960s, there was a need for improved access to healthcare. Eugene A. Snead, Jr., MD of Duke University Medical Center saw an opportunity with Naval Hospital Corpsmen coming back from WWII with considerable medical knowledge but no direct way to utilize it within the current system.
Four of the Corpsmen made up the first class of PAs who graduated from Duke in 1967.
Patients Love our PAs
At OC, it is our commitment to provide quality healthcare and create a healthier community. The best way to know that we’re meeting that commitment is through direct feedback from our patients themselves.
Here’s what our patients have had to say about our PAs:
“The PA we saw was awesome. He explained and drew a diagram for my 90yo mother, making sure she understood her choices and options. Thank you for being so kind and thorough.”
– Patient of Timothy Boyd, PA-C, OrthoCarolina Concord
“Allie was one of the most personable medical professionals I have interacted with ever. She was engaging, straight forward and a breath of fresh air.”
– Patient of Allie Kelly, PA-C, OrthoCarolina Ballantyne
“This is the second time that I have met with Jon Hendershot and believe that he is most excellent in his knowledge, diagnosis and descriptions. It’s not often that one has the opportunity to spend a significant amount of time with any medical professional, but that is not the case with OrthoCarolina. Everyone, from the check-in personnel, nurses, x-ray technicians, of course, Jon, and the check out folks are friendly, helpful and delightful.”
– Patient of Jon Hendershot, PA-C, OrthoCarolina Hip & Knee Center
Ready to help us celebrate PA Week? Submit your own comments or story by emailing stories@orthocarolina.com.
This article made possible with data and historical information from the American Academy of PAs.
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