A family practice physician assistant (PA) performs numerous administrative and medical responsibilities at a family or primary care practice. Your duties are to examine and treat patients at the practice, provide them with education and information about preventative care, help the supervising physician diagnose patients, and prescribe medication as needed. As a PA, you work under the supervision of a family doctor or primary care physician, and the scope of your duties and independence depend largely on your locality and the amount of experience you have.