-: My name is Mary Elizabeth Tekeski,
and I'm a physician assistant,
and I specialize in orthopedics.
So a physician assistant
is a certified licensed medical provider
that works under the direct supervision of a physician.
We can do a lot of different things.
I happen to specialize in orthopedics,
but you can see PAs in almost any area of practice,
in the hospital, in a clinic setting.
If they need an x-ray, we'll usually do that
so we can make sure that we don't see
anything that's abnormal that could be causing the issue.
And then I go in, I talk with the patient,
sit down, and really listen to 'em.
That is another thing about being a physician assistant.
We are expected to sit down and really listen to you,
and I like that about the profession as well.
Beginning a really good history, and doing a physical exam.
I generally look at x-rays before I go in, but I don't make,
that can help me guide with what I think is going on,
but I don't just base my diagnosis of a patient
on a picture.
I have to really listen to them,
and then putting it all together.
Then I give them their options.
I usually say, "This is what it seems like is going on.
"These are your options."
And I let them choose,
and if they ask me what I recommend,
obviously I'll give my recommendation,
or if there's something that they really should be doing,
then I let them know "This is what I would do
"if I was in your situation."
I'm in the clinic four days a week,
so I see patients from about nine to five,
different ailments.
Like I said, I see a slew of new patients,
I have my established patients,
if I need to do close follow-up with them,
or if they have a broken bone
I need to have them come back several times,
do x-rays, make sure everything is going how it needs to.
And then one day a week I go in with my orthopedic surgeon
and help in his surgical first assists,
so going in and depending on what those cases are,
either replacing a joint
or we're fixing something that is torn or broken.
I generally close all the cases for him,
so I do a lot of suturing, which is fun,
and then getting them dressed
and put any braces on that they need
and then see them post-op to recovery,
talk to the families and make sure that they're aware
of what happened and what they need to be expecting
in the next couple days until they see us for follow-up.