Doctor Appointments with PA or NP

[nw6675]

I guess I am in the minority, but I have the best care usually from the PAs and NPs. They are generally more personable and take more time addressing the issues. I choose to see them for the various specialties I frequent. I trust them because they are seeing more of the issues than tge doc sometimes.

I worked in a surgeons' practice for many years in the beginning of my career. The PAs were almost always used as the front line to weed out the easy from the hard and/or surgical cases. Often, patients would see both on the same visit. Patients were scheduled with the doc, but based on history and presenting problem, may have the PA first.

 

[Cadiewampus]

I have only once been irritated with a PA.

It was when dd was very little and they were doing a routine blood test. She came back with low iron. It is not a surprise as I have a minor blood disease (thalassemia) for which I will always be anemic and iron supplements do not work - and can make matters worse. I told her, don't do another finger stick as she likely has thalassemia and we need to get further testing done. I said it 3 TIMES! What did that women do? Pricked her finger again!! I was livid. Who the heck do you think you are when I told you repeatedly not do it? I am still getting mad just thinking about it. I wrote a letter to the practice telling them to listen to a parent when they are knowledgeable on things. (many doctors and PA's do not know about the nuances of thalassemia - even one of the OBGYN's when I was pregnant told me to go on iron supplements. NO!) Not sure if it fell on deaf ears but I absolutely refuse to have my child see her again.

OP, I definitely understand your frustration when it was a specialized doctor you were going to see. General practice, I see no issues with PA's or NP's. But when you are referred to consulting a cardiologist, you want to see a cardiologist. Glad to see you got the cardiologist for his appointment on Friday.

I hear ya. My wife has thalassemia minor. Can't tell you how many times a practice has told her to get on iron.

 

[fly girl]

I hear ya. My wife has thalassemia minor. Can't tell you how many times a practice has told her to get on iron.

Your wife knows this nonsense all too well. So annoying!! When you find that physician that understands it, it makes a world of difference!

 

[mjkacmom]

Lol I just had a great appointment with a PA, when I made the appointment online I had a choice of DO, NP or PA. I based it on who had the best appointment times available (I got in within a few days for a checkup, can’t beat that).

 

[_19disnA]

Probably depends on the nature of your medical issue and who is best able to deal with it. Doctors nowadays all seem like specialists and if your condition isn't exactly in their area, they push you off to someone else. I can recall taking my mom to some specialist doctor a few years ago (don't recall the exact medical concern) and the specialist who saw her was aloof/arrogant and talked in medical mumbo/jumbo that made no sense to us. I finally told him that mom is elderly and I don't work in the medical field so you need to talk in a way that we understand what you are saying. He seemed surprised. So if you see patients all day long, it has never occurred to him that people have no idea what he was saying? I find it hard to believe this was the first time someone said that to him. If others can explain things in language the average person can actually understand would be a good thing in my view.

 

[DVCjj]

I am always annoyed when that happens.
I feel it’s Bait and Switch.