Physician Assistant: Guide to Clinical Practice, 6th Edition

By Ruth Ballweg

ISBN: 978-0-323-40112-8

Pub Date: 4/20/2017

Reviewed by: Hilary Petersen, MPAS, PA-C (Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine)

Description

This is the sixth edition of a book that covers all aspects of the physician assistant profession as well as updates on evolving medical topics and changes to the healthcare system. This edition also includes access to an ebook version. The previous edition was published in 2013.

Purpose

The purpose is to provide a lifelong resource for physician assistant students as they progress through school and into their career. The main objectives include providing discussions of professional issues, updated information on topical, evolving medical topics included in the ARC-PA standards, an overview of clinical rotations, credentialing, changes to the healthcare system, and information specific to physician assistants (PAs) for administrative staff and employers.

Audience

According to the authors, the book is intended for PA students, practicing PAs, potential and current employers of PAs, and those interested in becoming PAs. Although the book is suitable for all these intended audiences, it seems most appropriate for current PA students as they move through their student career. I would characterize the book as a companion instead of a guide. The authors are definitely credible authorities on the subject.

Features

The book covers what PAs are, have been, and can become. It particularly focuses on the material and subjects that PA students will encounter in school and as they enter practice. The book is very good at presenting useful and succinct amounts of material on a variety of subjects. However, there are a great many subjects, which at first is confusing. The medical knowledge section in particular seems to have an arbitrarily selected number of subjects. However, these subjects are sometimes underdeveloped in a PA curriculum and are evolving over time. What is best about the book is that it is designed to cover emerging and current subjects in the standard PA curriculum.

Assessment

As a PA educator, I could easily see incorporating this book into our set of references for at least two different courses. I appreciate that it is particularly tailored to PA education. The updates do justify a new edition, especially since there have been several changes to the standards and competencies for PA education, and the healthcare system overall. I greatly appreciate the scope of this book.

Doody’s Review Service Weighted Numerical Score: 90 – 4 Stars!