Which statement best defines a physician?

• A. A nurse who prescribes medications.
• B. A doctor, who works in collaboration with a PA.
• C. A clinic administrator who handles scheduling tasks.
• D. A physical therapist who documents patient notes.

Answer: (B)

A physician is a medical doctor who has the authority to diagnose and treat illness, order tests, and prescribe medications. In many healthcare settings, physicians work in collaboration with physician assistants (PAs) to provide patient care, with the physician guiding and coordinating the team. The statement that best defines a physician is that they are a doctor who collaborates with a PA. This captures both the physician’s role as the licensed clinician and the common team-based approach to care.

The other options describe roles that are not physicians: a nurse who prescribes medications is not the physician, a clinic administrator handles scheduling and operations, and a physical therapist has a different clinical scope focused on rehabilitation.