Physicians Assistants?

[Bella the Ball 360]

Actually, PAs require a Bachelors degree and 2 additonal years of school and they can prescribe. I tihnk you are confusing PA with some other profession. Perhaps Medical Assistant, which is more of general person in the office who can do EKGs, draw blood, take vital signs etc.

HMM well the PA at my orthopedic's office said he could NOT prescribe. I had asked him a bunch of questions about the job and its requirements because my son had a degree in bio and was thinking of becoming a PA.

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

Bella I am not sure you are on target here.
A PA usually has the equivalent to a Masters Degree.

But according to the PA to whom I spoke, you do not have to have an undergrad in bio or the science field. Mabye HE was wrong. As far as I am concerned if an undergrad is in say education two years of training even if it is equivalent to a masters is still not enough for me if it is perhaps a new discipline.

 

[clarabelle]

An undergrad in a science degree is not necessary for a physician either.
My DH is a physician and his undergrad degree is in Chemistry which is very common -but your undergrad can be in anything as long as you take certain pre-requisites.

I don't know a whole lot about PA's but there are websites that have what is necessary for each state to be a PA. I think it may differ from state to state?
All the ones I have ever known did prescribe medications.

 

[Nancyg56]

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

My DBIL is a Pa and I would place my life in his hands in an emergency. He works in the ER in a very busy hospital, is exposed to a diverse set of medical situations and is current on medical processes and procedures. He also knows what he does not know which is a plus in any profession.

Before I knew him I had a less than impressed attitude about PA's but my learning curve is quick, I am embarrassed that I let a st of letters determine what I thought.

 

[Nancyg56]

I don't want "works in conjunction with." I want the real deal.

I want a doctor. I want him trained in the best schools, with access to the best technology and I'd like some experience, too. When it comes to my health and my body (or that of those I love), I don't play. No second best, thank you very much.

There is a misconception that a degree makes one smart. I have to tell you that my sister is a respiratory therapist and she dreads when some of the Dr's she works with prescribe treatments that are not appropriate or meds in doses that can kill people. She gets the fun job of discussing the "plan" with said Dr and then listening to him/her defend the treatment plan. Ultimately she is responsible for her ministrations so this is a big deal for her.

My other sister is a nurse and you do not want to get her started on some of the Doc's she has interacted with.

Experience is what you should look for. The people who are doing the hands on care for you and perform thee processes and procedures on people all day every day. Can these folks make a mistake? sure. I don't imagine that there is a Dr who has not misdiagnosed a patient or who determined the cause of the illness a bit too late.

I needed to see the OB/GYN in my Dr's office. He is one of the top guys in his field but I only went because the procedure I needed could not be performed by the NP. My primary care Dr is in that office and I usually see her for everything.

The first thing this Dr told me is that he felt that the reason I was experiencing my symptoms was becasue women think that they have cancer and that the symptoms increase because of stress. I swear I never even gave cancer a thought until his revelation. Yes, my symptoms increased right after that visit. My NP knew exactly what was wrong, my own Dr had prepared me what I was going through so I had not had any concerns until he "educated" me. I saw him for the follow up but I will never step foot in that office unless my NP insists she is unable to help.

 

[livie1205]

i love mydoc but he is always waayy to busy so I tend to see his PA...she is really nice and takes as much time as I need.If I am there for something bad she goes to ask the dr right away but if it is a cold or something she takes care of it great.I do not mind seeing her and my co pay is 10.00 no matter who I see so it does not matter much...and she does right scripts..

 

[AKBAFB]

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.

ITA

At my daughters' pediatrician's office we have a female PA who is just the BEST with my girls! We'll request to see her over the doctor, because he's older and, I think, more intimidating for the kids. But, I know when anything serious comes up, he'll be there with his experience and knowlege overseeing their care as well.

 

[Poohgirl]

Im not too keen on my Doctors PA. I went in one time for extremely swollen glands under my right ear lobe. It was very painful. So he comes in and checks out the large lump, points to a small pimple on my chin and says "well its only because of that pimple"

Ok, now since I was pregnant 11+ years ago I have gotten occasional pimples, most much worse then the small one that was already on its way out... I tried to explain that it was not from the pimple, I had gotten the pimple after the swollen glands. His response "Have you been to medical school? It doesn't matter the prescription will take the swelling away whatever the cause." I refuse to see him anymore....

 

[In a hurry]

We've been misdiagnosed 4 x's by PA's. Not doing it anymore.

 

[lowie]

i've never had a good experience with a PA. once my daughter was having an awful reaction to eating a cashew (before we knew she was allergic)and the PA told me that 'she is coming own with something and her body is trying to break into a fever, that's why she's bright red all over'. when really she needed an epipen and fast!

and once at the ER with my son, who fell down the stairs and landed on his forehead. she looked in his eyes and said he was fine to go home. i asked about an xray and she said 'now why would you want to submit your child to unnecessary radiation', made me feel like the worst mom on earth, like i would WANT to harm my child. had she have looked further she may have noticed that he broke a front tooth that may have needed attention but she was out of the room too fast.
i refused to allow my insurance to pay that bill so they fought it for me and won! also, it should be known that the ER was charging for the PA PLUS a physician 'consult' fee

there have been others but nothing as bad as these 2. i'm in the same boat with those who want to see the doctor they are paying for!

 

[Disney Doll]

But all of you who have had bad experiences with PAs relaize that you could have had the same bad experiences with MDs, right?

 

[03badger]

I am a PA and my wife made me read this wonderful post. I couldn't help but reply using her username.

First I am suprised by the number of people who would only see a PA for a cold........why do you need to see anyone for a cold?

The MD (or is it DO) with the BS and MS in chemistry is quite impressed with herself. I work for a lot of physicians who have advanced degrees....many of whom are total morons. And out of curiosity, why didn't you treat the pericarditis yourself if you are the greatest MD (or probably DO) in the world....it really isn't that hard.

Other than that NP's and PA's have about the same length of training, just different training. PA's in the medical model, and NP's in the nursing model.

Yes we bill the insurance companies the same as a Dr. visit, but they don't reimburse the same.

For the most part, people have been pretty pro-PA on this thread, some have been ignorantly or incorrectly anti-PA, I won't try and change their mind. I would recommend you visit your local Doctors office and visit the MD trained in Bolivia or Bosnia who completed their residency at a residency program who had to take the bottom of the barrel to fill their resident slots. They should treat you just fine for your cold.


By the way, swollen lymph nodes can be caused by a pimple, and probably wouldn't have been improved with antibiotics (as I'm sure you wanted!) and the stupid PA that treated you probably thought you were as dumb as you thought he was. In fact he is probably in the breakroom laughing about you with some smart doctors.

 

[lowie]

For the most part, people have been pretty pro-PA on this thread, some have been ignorantly or incorrectly anti-PA, I won't try and change their mind.

dang, dude, chill out. a little sensitive, huh?

 

[Abbie]

I am a PA and my wife made me read this wonderful post. I couldn't help but reply using her username.

First I am suprised by the number of people who would only see a PA for a cold........why do you need to see anyone for a cold?

The MD (or is it DO) with the BS and MS in chemistry is quite impressed with herself. I work for a lot of physicians who have advanced degrees....many of whom are total morons. And out of curiosity, why didn't you treat the pericarditis yourself if you are the greatest MD (or probably DO) in the world....it really isn't that hard.

Other than that NP's and PA's have about the same length of training, just different training. PA's in the medical model, and NP's in the nursing model.

Yes we bill the insurance companies the same as a Dr. visit, but they don't reimburse the same.

For the most part, people have been pretty pro-PA on this thread, some have been ignorantly or incorrectly anti-PA, I won't try and change their mind. I would recommend you visit your local Doctors office and visit the MD trained in Bolivia or Bosnia who completed their residency at a residency program who had to take the bottom of the barrel to fill their resident slots. They should treat you just fine for your cold.


By the way, swollen lymph nodes can be caused by a pimple, and probably wouldn't have been improved with antibiotics (as I'm sure you wanted!) and the stupid PA that treated you probably thought you were as dumb as you thought he was. In fact he is probably in the breakroom laughing about you with some smart doctors.

Actually that poster with the pimple was trying to make the point that the pimple came AFTER the swollen glands. I guess you could be in the breakroom laughing too but you still wouldn't have listened to what the patient was trying to tell you. And why would you assume she simply wanted antibiotics? Most people are educated enough to know that an antibiotic is not always the first and best response, in fact just the opposite. Give her a little credit.

I love the NP's in our office but I sure would be unhappy if they spent their down time laughing at "dumb" patients! It's good to know ours are much more professional than that.