A psychiatric physician assistant is a member of a medical team who helps mentally ill patients with treatment and support. They collaborate with psychiatrists to provide mental health evaluation and treatment in settings such as community clinics, hospitals, and psychiatric practices. The job entails maintaining paperwork, filing with insurance companies, and participating in other administrative tasks in addition to direct patient care. Some have specialized psychiatric certifications, while others lack advanced mental health training.
Many of the same tasks as a doctor can be performed by these medical professionals, but they must do so under supervision. With the approval of a supervising doctor, they can write prescriptions and perform minor medical procedures, for example. A psychiatric physician assistant may be assigned to a patient in order to conduct an intake assessment, meet with family members, and assess the patient’s needs. The physician assistant meets with a supervising doctor on a regular basis to discuss specific situations that have arisen in the practice and how they are being addressed.
Patients may be given diagnoses and treatment recommendations as part of the job. Medication management can be a significant part of a psychiatric physician assistant’s job, as this is where the majority of medical training in this field is typically found. If psychotherapy is beneficial to the patient, it may be provided by another health care provider. The psychiatric physician assistant monitors the patient’s doses and responses while on medication, determining when to increase the dosage and when the patient needs to try a different medication.
Psychiatric medications have the potential to cause serious side effects. Patients who take these medications should be closely monitored for signs of liver damage, psychiatric disturbances, and neurological impairment. A patient with undiagnosed bipolar disorder who is put on an antidepressant, for example, might have a manic episode as a result of the medication. To detect these issues early, an attentive psychiatric physician assistant can evaluate patients, consider risks, and monitor them as they adjust to medication.
A psychiatric physician assistant may work in a crisis or emergency unit to provide immediate treatment to people with acute mental health problems as part of their job. Following the resolution of the crisis, a long-term care plan can be developed to prevent future crises. The psychiatric physician assistant may also assist patients in locating financial assistance and other services that may be beneficial as a primary point of contact with the mental health system.