Physicians Assistants?

[luvmarypoppins]

Just wanted to know what peoples opinions are. I honestly dont like the ones at our local hospital and neither do my ds who are the ones who are always getting them. It seems like you never even see a dr. But they do manage to bill your insurance at the doctors full fee, lol!!

I am asking this because I got a message on the machine saying that the dr. will not be able to see ds tomm. for the check up on his broken foot but he can see the physicians assistant. My ins. pays for this but its still a $30 co pay and I know they have training etc. I questioned the office and asked if they were going to take an x ray if needed or could the pa make the determination that my ds would or would not have to use the air cast anymore because I told the office I am not going there to frustrate my ds again (if they were not going to even do anything except take my $30 co pay etc.). They assured me these things would happen tomm, so we will see.

I have seen the pa at my general doctor and I didnt really like her personality. I guess the dr. didnt either because I dont think she works there anymore.

So what are your experiences/opinions.

 

[ajk912]

Is a PA a nurse practitioner? If so, we see the NP for days that I basically just need a doctor's note for school or a script written. For us, the NP usually has less of a wait. For me though, for anything bigger than that..I want to see a doc. I am paying $40 OOP for 5 minutes of your time..and you are billing the insurance company that I pay $500 a month to use the additional $100- I want full credentials for those 5 minutes, please. Call me a witch, but it's how I feel!

 

[Pigeon]

I agree. There are a few minor things I don't mind seeing a PA or NP for, but for the most part, if I'm paying for a doctor's appointment, I expect to have the doctor.

 

[ilovepcot]

As an RN, if I'm given a choice whether to see my doctor or his PA, I'll choose the PA. It's been my experience that they spend more time and make themselves more available than the doctor.

ETA: The one time I saw a PA and she had question concerning treatment for me, she summoned the doctor immediately. I've never seen one attempt to treat something out of their area of expertise so I feel comfortable having them treat me.

 

[Golf4food]

"Attention fans. We know you paid for tickets to watch the Rolling Stones perform tonight, but they are busy, so instead we give you... Al and the Caholics from the bar down the street. No refunds will be given. Thank you."

 

[agnes!]

Most of the ones I've had experience with have been fine. A relative of mine would tell a different story however...

Recently he went to his local ER with a suspected broken nose. While there an X-Ray was taken, but he was only ever physically examined by a PA who said he didn't have a broken nose. Later the hospital called and said the relative should probably go see their personal physician.

My relative saw a specialist/surgeon yesterday. Turns out he will have to have surgery complete with general anesthetic and (at the very least) splints inside and outside his nose. Turns out he has multiple broken bones/cartilage in his nose/face.
So he might have a different opinion of PAs.

agnes!

 

[disney kid at heart]

I'm anxious to know if they are as good as the Dr because tomorrow the NP is doing some biopsy's on nodules and I hope she is good. The Dr wouldn't have been able to see me for 3 months and rheumatologist said too long a wait. Wish me luck

 

[ChelleinNC]

I've (almost) always have had good experiences with PA's There was one in the Navy clinic in NY who was a jerk, but I'm pretty sure that didn't have anything to do with being a PA

My daugher has seen 2 different PA's at the Ortho office (different injuries, she's a bit of a clutz ) They've been fantastic and one even found the break in her finger that the "real" Dr radiologist missed

 

[malibuconlee]

There are PAs = Physician's Assistants and NPs = Nurse Practitioners.

I've seen the NP at one office when we were new to town and I couldn't get into any doctor as it seemed everyone in town was sick. She examined me and ordered a blood test, but it turned out to be nothing. Nice to know.

I've also seen the NP at my OB/GYN's office. The first time when I had a UTI when I found out I was pregnant. Again she ordered the tests and was able to prescribe antibiotics for my infection. The other time was for one of my regular prenatal visits. My dr had to do an emergency c-section, so I had the option of going in to see the NP at the regular appt time or rescheduling. I chose to see her.

I used to work in Medical Records at the local hospital and if I recall the PA's are overseen by MD's. As in orders had to be co-signed by the MD.

I do have to agree with the previous poster who said many times you will get more time/attention from a PA. Happened when I was in the ER with a friend of mine. She saw both (the PA had been practicing longer than the MD too) and she had a much better response from the PA than the MD who was on that night.

 

[Jen_in_NH]

Well, as a PA, I'd have to say I'd be more than willing to see one

There are good and bad PAs, just as there are good and bad MDs. Our training is for managing basic health care issues. Things that we feel are more complex than we can treat you for are referred to the doctor we work for. So yes, sometimes you will have to see both of us. For routine health care, probably not.

Jen

 

[hmansure]

I'm anxious to know if they are as good as the Dr because tomorrow the NP is doing some biopsy's on nodules and I hope she is good. The Dr wouldn't have been able to see me for 3 months and rheumatologist said too long a wait. Wish me luck

IMO it's not if they're "as good" - depends on the practitioner really.... the underlying difference comes down to training...

 

[shirleyb]

I've always liked my doctor's PA. I'd actually rather see him than the doc!

 

[Mr.Monk]

Well, as a PA, I'd have to say I'd be more than willing to see one

There are good and bad PAs, just as there are good and bad MDs. Our training is for managing basic health care issues. Things that we feel are more complex than we can treat you for are referred to the doctor we work for. So yes, sometimes you will have to see both of us. For routine health care, probably not.



Jen

 

[minniecarousel]

I like the PA at my orthopaedic's office. He's given me the cortisone injections in my hand.

I see the NP at my gynocologist's office. I feel that she can spend more time with me.

I see your point - you're paying to see the DOCTOR. Sometimes you have to weigh waiting to see the doctor vs getting an appt sooner when you see the PA.

 

[southernbelle_amy]

Just wanted to add my 2 cents since I am a PA as well. And by the way it is Physician Assistant not Physician's Assistant, but anyway. The one thing that people should understand is that even if you have a bad experience w/a PA that doesn't mean all will be the same. Not everyone likes the same doctors and just because they don't like one, they typically don't write off the whole profession. I also don't think people realize the amount of training and exposure a lot of PA's have, plus the training they additionally accrue over time. As far as what you pay for it is fine if you only want to see the doctor but typically your insurance is billed 80% for a PA's service versus the doctor. I am sure that there are times when I have missed the right diagnosis on a patient. On the same token I have found plenty of new heart murmurs and a major Autism diagnosis that was missed by my supervising physicians. No one is perfect. What is important is knowing when to research more or ask for additional guidance. I would urge anyone against or for the profession to research more about it because I feel it is commonly misunderstood.

 

[DaksKid]

My mom is chronically ill. She goes to the doctor's office several times a month and she swears she would rather see the PA or nurse practitioner any day over the doctor. She says the doctors spends about five minutes with her while his assistants spends like 30 minutes or even an hour. I see the PA at my allergy doctor's office and she is fabulous. I can't imagine why people would feel they aren't getting their money's worth if they "only" see a doctor. Doctors are so rushed, at least in my town. But the PA and nurse practitioners always have plenty of time. At my doctor's office, the nurse prac. specializes in women's medicine and I swear, she knows way more than the doctor does.

 

[HeatherFeather]

I work in ultrasound and we have a PA who does the majority of our invasive procedures. I would pick him over our radiologists any day of the week if myself or a family member needed a procedure.

 

[delilah]

I am a family physician, and we don't have a PA or NP working in our office. Some of the doctors have them, and they have their role. Many that I have had experience have overstepped their expertise, in my opinion as a fellow health professional. You know, the old saying "fools rush in where angels fear to tread", that's how some (OK, most, ... well, yeah, all) of the NP's and PA's are like.

I have a four year college degree in chemistry, graduated Phi Beta Kappa with high honors. I have a MS, also in physical chemstry (so you know I have some smarts). I attended four years of medical school, and three years of residency, passed a specialty medical board exam. And a PA with a (maybe) BS degree and one or two years training beyond knows as much clinically as I do. Excuse me, what planet are you from? I seriously doubt it.

We had a NP training in our office one fall. She screwed up all the immunizations for all the kids she saw. I am still correcting her mistakes, and that was in 2000. She gave immunizations too early, the wrong ones, etc. I wasn't the doctor supervising her, so I didn't correct her at the time. What a mess! And she had a typical cocky know it all better than you attitude.

We have a PA and a NP in our ER. Right before I left on spring break, she missed a young boy with pericarditis because she was preoccupied about a chemical spill. I saw him the next day--admitted him, of course, and had cardiology see him. And just yesterday afternoon, I saw a young lady who was treated so rudely by one of the NP's in the ER that I recommended that she report her to the patient advocate. It seems that this NP has some difficulty relating to other women with pelvic pain, treating this poor girl as if she were a drug seeker because she needed medication for pain. I'm not one to wish ill on another, but somebody needs to suffer a bout of killer menstrual cramps. And learn a little compassion.

 

[JimB.]

For "regular stuff" I have no problem w/a PA. The ones I know alway get the MD if something really amiss is going on.

so instead we give you... Al and the Caholics from the bar down the street.

Hey HEy HEY!!! What's the beef here!!! Those guys really ROCK!!!!!

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

As an RN, if I'm given a choice whether to see my doctor or his PA, I'll choose the PA. It's been my experience that they spend more time and make themselves more available than the doctor.

ETA: The one time I saw a PA and she had question concerning treatment for me, she summoned the doctor immediately. I've never seen one attempt to treat something out of their area of expertise so I feel comfortable having them treat me.

I am with you. My whole family uses the PA. I love them. My PA does everything. My kids have never been to a pediatrician, we always went to the family doctor and PA. Like yours when my PA had a question about something, she got a doctor right away. I had a problem with ours last year, but it was partially a misunderstanding on my part as well.