Heather Fitzpatrick, PA-C
Physician Assistant/Associates At ENT & Allergy Center
Heather is an experienced PA who comes to us with more than 16 years of experience!
Heather graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience. She decided to pursue medicine and attended PA school at Lock Haven University of Pennsylvania and graduated in 2007 with a master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies.
She initially worked in Pennsylvania in a solo Gastroenterology and Hepatology practice. After 8 years, she returned to Texas to be closer to family and began working with a large plastic and reconstructive surgery team, with a focus on Craniofacial and Reconstructive Surgery.
Heather relocated to Austin after four years to pursue an inpatient career in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at Dell Seton’s Level I trauma center, where she worked for nearly five years.
In her free time, she enjoys refinishing old furniture, making jam, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
Heather joins ENT & Allergy Center of Austin primarily as Dr. Stierman’s PA. We are very excited to introduce her to our patients and welcome her with open arms!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
PAs (physician associates/physician assistants) are licensed clinicians who practice medicine in every specialty and setting. They are trusted, rigorously educated and trained healthcare professionals. PAs are dedicated to expanding access to care and transforming health and wellness through patient-centered, team-based medical practice.
PAs can perform several different tasks within the medical field. Some of these include taking medical histories, performing examinations, diagnosing illnesses, analyzing test results, developing management plans for the care of patients, and prescribing and administering medication. PAs often serve as a patient’s principal healthcare provider.
At ENT & Allergy Center of Austin, we encourage our PAs to emphasize patient education, preventative care, chronic care & post-operative care. PAs generalist medical training enables them to provide a wide spectrum of patient care and treat the “whole patient.” Our PAs are versatile and collaborative.
A PA must have a bachelor’s degree to enter into a PA-approved program. The program takes 27 months or 3 academic years to complete. They also complete a total of 2,000 clinical rotation hours and must pass a certification exam to graduate at a master’s degree level. To maintain their certification, PAs must complete 100 hours of continuing medical education every two years and take a recertification exam every 10 years.
50% of PAs work in outpatient offices or clinics, while about 37% work in hospital settings, and 5% work in Urgent Care settings. The remaining 13% work in schools/universities, rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes, and/or correctional facilities.
93% of patients say that PAs are trusted healthcare providers. 92% of patients say that having a PA makes it easier to get medical appointments. 91% of patients say that PAs improve the quality of healthcare.
The difference between a Doctor and a PA is that a PA works under the supervision of a doctor whereas a doctor has full responsibility for a clinical situation. Both are qualified medical professionals. In our practice, our PAs work hand-in-hand with our physicians. Your care is overseen by the physician and we provide consistent collaboration on your treatment.
No, a PA cannot perform surgery; however, they can assist doctors during surgical procedures. Although the ENT surgeon will perform your complex surgery our PAs are the first assistants in the surgery. PAs will do as much as the surgeons allow them to do – sutures, suction, and even post-operative care.
Yes, a PA can prescribe medication. PAs are allowed to order or furnish a drug in all jurisdictions where they are licensed. This includes all 50 states, excluding Puerto Rico.
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