Locations:
SearchAdvertisement
The Short Answer from one of our experts
A: Physician assistants (PAs) team up with your doctor and other healthcare providers to care for you. They earn a master’s degree after completing an intense medical curriculum from an accredited physician assistant program (often housed in a medical school).
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Physician assistants graduate as medical generalists. They may practice in a primary care setting or a specialty setting, teaming up with a physician or a surgeon. They can assess, diagnose, treat, prescribe medication, and educate you about health conditions and about wellness.
As our population ages, physicians will rely more and more on physician assistants and other advanced care practitioners, such as nurse practitioners, to improve access to quality medical care.
— Cleveland Clinic Education Institute Executive Dean James Young, MD
Advertisement
Learn more about our editorial process.
Advertisement
These similar versions of brand-name drugs are safe, effective and often less expensive
Though these painkillers work in different ways, they can both help reduce a fever and pain
Pressing a glass on a rash provides some clues, but it’s not foolproof
Turning your head to the side and pulling your ear up and back is one common tactic for relief
If you don’t have an underlying condition, cold plunges might help ease sore muscles, decrease inflammation and even heighten your focus
Like any medication, prednisone can come with side effects — for best results, take it with food in the morning and work with your provider to get the dosage right
From influenza and COVID-19 to pneumococcal, shingles and more, vaccines help keep you healthy
Climate change can strain your heart, cause illnesses and make it difficult to breathe, but you can take steps to protect the planet and your health
When you get bogged down with mental tasks, you can experience mood changes, sleeplessness and more
You can alternate these OTCs to help with pain management and fever reduction
Non-exercise activity thermogenesis is all the activity we do that’s not technically exercise but is still important to your health and well-being
