Hays, KS – HaysMed will recognize the Physician Assistants (PA) working at the hospital during National Physician Assistant Week October 6 through 12.

Treating patients in today’s complex healthcare settings takes a whole team of professionals. Physician assistants are medical professionals with thousands of hours of training. Their skills enable them to diagnose illnesses, prescribe medications, and perform many medical tasks.

As their name implies, PAs work closely with doctors and other healthcare providers. In most states, a PA has an agreement with a specific physician and practices alongside them. The supervising physician doesn’t have to be present when a PA is practicing, letting them take care of other tasks while the PA continues patient care. Physician Assistants can prescribe and administer medication, acting on behalf of their supervising physician. In some cases, PAs can even perform surgical procedures that use local anesthesia without the supervision of the physician.

“Physician Assistants are unsung heroes and deserve their moment in the limelight,” said Terry Siek, Chief Nursing Officer and Vice President of Patient Care. “This week is to celebrate them and be thankful for their efforts.”

PAs at HaysMed include:  Alaina Dressler, PA-C, Surgery; Nichole Ganoung, PA-C and Jennifer Williams, PA-C,  Family Medicine; Mark Heimerman, PA-C,  Joshua Lahr, PA-C, Jared Reed, PA-C and Caitlin Thornton, PA-C, Orthopedics; Rachel Ketter, PA and Melvin Setter, PA, ENT; Kelsey Lahey, PA-C, Andrea Paul, PA-C and Tara Roa, PA-C, Internal Medicine; Brittney Stewart, PA-C, Convenient Care; Margo Straub, PA-C, Pediatrics; and  Amanda Volchko, PA-C, Cancer Center.