Physician Assistants Celebrated at West Holt Medical Clinic
Atkinson, NE — We all know that receiving medical care can be stressful. Whether you’re nervous about a procedure, frustrated at the wait time for an appointment, or visiting a new medical practice for the first time, navigating the healthcare world can be understandably unnerving.
But PAs, or physician assistants, are here to help.
From October 6-12, West Holt Medical Clinic celebrates PA Week, which recognizes the PA profession and its contributions to the nation’s health. During PA Week, take a moment to talk to West Holt Medical Clinic’s PAs Amy Rentschler and Jon Gotschall about the specialized care they can provide.
PAs are medical professionals who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and can serve as your primary healthcare provider.
Even if you haven’t been treated by a PA before, there’s a good chance you will in the near future. There are more than 123,000 PAs working across the country—and according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the profession is expected to grow 37 percent between 2016 and 2036.
A 2018 healthcare workforce study conducted by the University of Nebraska Medical Center revealed a 52 percent increase of active PAs in the state of Nebraska from 2007 to 2018. There are currently 908 PAs in Nebraska compared to 598 in 2007.
There are more than 250 PA programs, which educate students at the master’s degree level. These programs are an average of 27 months long and require students to complete rigorous classroom coursework. Additionally, PA students complete 2,000 hours of clinical rotations in a broad spectrum of specialties, including family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, general surgery, emergency medicine, and psychiatry.
Trained as medical generalists, PAs perform many of the same tasks as physicians, and know how to treat the “whole patient.”
In Nebraska there is an unprecedented physician shortage. However, PAs are on the front lines to provide needed healthcare services to communities throughout the state.
Amy Rentschler, PA-C and Jon Gotschall, PA-C are experienced physician assistants at West Holt Medical Clinic in Atkinson. They provide complete family healthcare for newborn through adult, including pediatric, adolescent and geriatric patients.
With thousands of hours of medical training and a versatile skill set, PAs are expanding access to team-based care. When it comes to quality healthcare close to home, the PAs at West Holt Medical Clinic are equipped to handle your healthcare needs.
The healthcare system can be complicated and at times, frustrating—but through it all, you can be confident that whatever you need, your PA can handle it.
