Physician assistant

Physician assistants (PAs) are relatively new healthcare professionals in the Netherlands. Their duties and responsibilities lie between those of a medical specialist and a nurse. They reduce doctors' workload by taking on a range of tasks.

What training does a physician associate have?

Before someone can become a physician associate, they must have completed a higher professional education course in healthcare (such as physiotherapy or nursing) and have several years of work experience. They then complete the physician associate course. This is where they further specialise in a medical field, such as orthopaedics, rheumatology or internal medicine. They always work under the supervision of a doctor.

What does a physician associate do?

A physician associate performs a wide range of tasks, giving the doctor more time for other matters. An appointment may therefore be scheduled with a physician associate instead of a doctor. Depending on the speciality, their tasks and responsibilities include:

• Holding clinics.
• Carrying out physical or further medical examinations.
• Drawing up a treatment plan.
• Performing (minor) medical procedures such as injections, catheterisations and punctures.
• Assisting with operations.
• Prescribing medication.
• Providing emergency care.
• Coordinating patient care.
• Providing patients with information and educating healthcare staff.
• Developing protocols and guidelines to improve care.
• Contributing to scientific research.

Where does a physician associate work?

Physician associates work in hospitals, nursing homes, residential care homes and mental health institutions. You can also find a physician associate in GP practices, but this is not the same as a doctor's assistant. A doctor's assistant has much more limited responsibilities.