Can anyone explain what a physicians assistant (PA) is?

[Taylor]

I have been seeing a Hematologist for about 6 months due to a blood clot problem in my leg. ( Oh, what a drag it is getting old...)

On many of my visits I have met with the PA and not the doctor. I know she has the ability to prescibe medications, but I am unsure of her exact qualifications.

Can anyone enlighten me?

 

[Laz]

I think this site can answer all your questions:

http://www.aapa.org/geninfo1.html

I have a PA as my regular family practitioner. I think he has more knowledge and experience than many MDs.

 

[ducklite]

I have a friend that's a PA. She's got a BS in biology and an additional 18 months of schooling.

PA's work under the supervision of doctors, and are quite capable of seeing patients for follow up visits such in your case.

I prefer to see the PA at my doctors office. She's less rushed, and generally when I'm at the doctor it's for an asthma check--something we all know I have. She listens to my lungs, checks my peak flows, and checks my BP (It's elevated due to the asthma meds, so theya re watching it.)

She takes her time, and is (IMHO) more willing to really listen to any ideas I've got about trying new management techniques. She can write all my scripts. PA's can't write scripts for certain controlled substances though.

IMHO you're lucky that you're seeing the PA. IMHO because they can take more time with patients, they are far more likely to find something that a doctor might miss, and in my experience more interested in treating the entire patient, not just the current complaint.

Anne

 

[Taylor]

Thank you.

 

[Tinks]

I'm a P.A.! I think the above posters have done a fine job explaining the position to you. PAs and NPs (nurse practitioners) are very similar. NPs are trained under nursing and PAs are trained under Med Schools. Hope that helps. PAs have been around for a while, especially on the east and west coasts. They are just catching on in the Midwest in the last 10 or so years.

 

[Taylor]

IMHO you're lucky that you're seeing the PA. IMHO because they can take more time with patients, they are far more likely to find something that a doctor might miss, and in my experience more interested in treating the entire patient, not just the current complaint. Anne

I definitely agree with this statement. She is more "human" than any MD I have ever seen.

 

[Judy from Boise]

I think there is at least one big difference between a NP and a PA. A Nurse Practioner is prepared at the Master's degree level, and can maintain a completely independent practice. a PA must practice under the direct supervision of a MD.

 

[sleepydog25]

I'm married to a doc. . .an FP. And she works with PAs & NPs, the vast majority of who are superb at what they do. In fact, it would be hard for her to do her job without them. However, I must give a cheer for her and say that she is extremely popular with her patients for the same reasons a few of you have mentioned: she listens, she sees the person not just the complaint, she serves whole families, and she catches things PAs and NPs may not because her training and background are extensive. And she works her tail off. In fact, she's on OB/Peds/Medicine call right now--the FPs and NPs know what that means--as she is 3-4 times a month in addition to her "normal" OB/Peds rotating call at least once a week.

Though she is as vivacious and personable as any person I've ever met, she can have her off moments. It might have to do with the fact that she was on a gurney with a patient trying to bleed to death at 1 a.m. that morning. Or it could be that she had stayed at the hospital for six hours one night with a baby that needed emergency surgery at a larger hospital whose transport crew was busy on another call. Maybe it had to do with the fact that during those same six hours, she also had to deliver another child while checking the vitals and doing follow ups on two other babies born a few hours earlier by other docs who were by that time home and in bed. It might also have to do with those times when she has had to tell a grieving family that their elderly parent or grandparent had died despite many doctors', PAs', and NPs' best efforts. Despite all those things, she still sees an average of 20-25 patients a day, five days a week. . .and hugs each and every one of them. And then she has to deal with me and a very precocious 5-yr old at home!

I realize no one was truly denigrating docs, but as you can tell, I'm quite proud of my wife and the effort she gives during her "typical" 60-hour work week (not including call). I just thought it equitable to mention that some docs are as good as PAs and NPs.

 

[CF'er]

PA and NP. I trust them just as much as I do the regular Dr. I respect them all for their vast knowledge. I think I trust them more as I have more dealing with them and feel they "know" ME better. The PA at the hosp spends alot of time with me whereas the attending is in and out. Maybe it's because she is such a good PA?

I think that they all have their places and jobs and that none of them could be replaced.

 

[Puffy2]

Nurse practicioners are BSNs (bachlor of nursing) (or RNs to MSNs) with usually at least two years of nursing under their belts before they begin the NP program - which is an additional 2 - 3 years.

PAs get the 18 months of training and can have an undergrad major in just about anything before they do PA school.

 

[C.Darwin]

PA's are awesome, especially in family practice.