Section outline

      • Although the physician associate profession is still considered relatively ‘new’ in the UK, the first physician associates were formally introduced in 2003. The role being first developed in the US in the 1960s.
      • They are work across the breadth of medicine as part of a multidisciplinary team.
      • PAs have defined competencies that are overseen directly or indirectly via telephone, this has multiple benefits but particularly increases patient access to care by extension to the team of doctors.
      • The level of supervision depends on many factors including the Pas experience.