In the fast-paced world of urgent care, PAs are indispensable. This PA Week, we highlight the remarkable opportunities for professional growth and development for PAs within the urgent care space, both inside and outside the exam room.
In the clinic, urgent care PAs wear a lot of hats: triage, diagnostician, stabilizer. We’re masters of adaptability, able to perform procedures, and even "MacGyver" tools to ensure patients receive the best care possible.
The often resource-limited urgent care setting demands a versatile skill set that relies on the basics: a thorough history and comprehensive physical exam. This reliance on fundamentals doesn't limit our capabilities; instead, it highlights our diagnostic acumen and clinical expertise.
Urgent care organizations recognize the leadership potential within their PA workforce, inviting us to venture into management and administrative roles, like lead clinician, regional director, or head of education. PAs can go even further, stepping into executive roles, influencing policy decisions, and shaping the strategic direction of healthcare organizations. (Several of the PAs on our urgent care team at Hippo have served in these such roles within their own organizations!)
This PA Week, let's celebrate the versatility and dedication of urgent care PAs, both inside and outside the exam room, as we continue to make a difference in patient care and healthcare management.
If you’re a PA working in UC, what do you love about working in the field? We want to hear about the unique roles you’ve had within your urgent care organization. Join the discussion in the comments section below!