Rebecca E. Deaton, MD

Kathleen A. Heffron, MD

Lori A. Hubbard, MD

Daran L. Parham, MD

Tracey L. Lakin, MD

Physician Assistant

Nurse Practitioner

Physician Assistant

The physician assistant is increasingly recognized as a quality health care provider, performing many of the same services with the supervision of a physician. Licensed by the state and in some cases certified by a recognized medical board, the physician assistant can perform physical exams, diagnose illnesses, recommend and implement treatment plans, order and interpret lab tests, assist in surgery and provide patient education and preventative health care counseling. Generally, the types of cases seen by a physician are more complex and medically complicated than those seen by a physician assistant. The patient is referred to the supervisory physician when it is appropriate to do so.

Physician assistants are trained in medicine just like physicians. A major difference between the physician assistants' education and that of a physician is the amount of time spent in school. In general, an accredited physician assistant program requires less course work and does not require an internship or residency program that physician must perform. In addition, a physician is an independent practitioner. A physician assistant practices medicine under the supervision of a physician.