"Royal Pains" on USA network has a PA in a lead role

[Cobb31]

I am currently watching the pilot episode of Royal Pains on USA. The M.D is between jobs and is accidentally gaining patients among the Hampton's wealthiest "A concierge Doctor" My concern with this show is there is a character who is saying she wants to be his PA, he responds HUH? and she clarifies "Physician Assistant" and informs him that all the concierge doctors have one. She seems to begin to act as an assistant and not a medical practitioner. I hope if this show becomes popular that they do better with how this PA practices. I am assuming the writers have absolutely no clue what a PA is. She does attempt to explain her title and isn't given a chance maybe it will get better, lets hope..


The preview of the next episode shows the PA helping with a patient, I do not think the show will ever have her seeing patients alone. Especially since the doc is definitely not practicing medicine in a typical way.

Has anyone else seen this?
What are you thinking?

[EMEDPA]

..


I do not think the show will ever have her seeing patients alone. Especially since is definitely not a typical way to practice medicine.

actually pa's typically do see patients alone.....if the doc has to see every pt you see there is no reason for them to hire you...

[Cobb31]

The show in my opinion is not going to show her working as a PA but nurse/MA/secretary. I meant that the doctor is not practicing medicine typically. He gets called when there is a emergency and does McIver techniques to treat the patient. He uses a razor blade, sandwich bag, and Duct tape on a patient.

[Iain1028]

Sounds degrading...

[Febrifuge]

They have an Emergency Med MD as their medical advisor; I'm hoping maybe he has something to say about PAs and what we do. I suppose I'll give it a few episodes to demonstrate whether they have a clue.

If they mess it up, I'll have to call my Hollywood contacts and raise some hell.

[roman6163]

I watched the pilot last night.

The PA character portrayed a lot of good qualities for a Physician Assistant. Very knowledgeable, on the ball, a go-getter, intelligent, very assertive, and not bad looking either.

I think she helped the viewers realize and understand the good qualities of a PA.

The show itself was not too bad either, somewhat entertaining.

[BBrasseal]

Hello all.

I cannot tell if this will be good for our profession or not. Last night I watched the pilot episode and my eyes lit up when the character said she was a PA. I was very excited...However, as the episode played out I left feeling she was a "girl Friday" type character. "Here I am with medical supplies. You make it happen, MD".

I actually googled "Royal pains and PA" to see what people were saying.
This website is interesting-it is a synopsis of the show and interviews of the characters including the PA character:

http://cinemablend.com/television/Ro...iew-17964.html

She goes back and forth with Physician's Assistant and Physician Assistant. But she does discuss her character having a business degree and then going for her Master's for the PA degree in the interview. Great! However, I'm not sure if we will be correctly portrayed in the show.

So let's hope for the best. However, if the character is portrayed as a personal assistant with mucho medical supplies or an MA type, can we ruffle some feathers (in a professional way of course...? I think this is important considering we NEVER have PAs in the media. This could have BIG implications! Anyone agree?

BB

[jsc983]

Brasseal, I agree. I think we need to write polite emails to the network to encourage a positive and accurate representation of a PA.

[Cobb31]

I am watching the second episode on hulu, and so far the PA was with a patient sooner than the doctor and still she didn't remove the sutures herself, but waited for him. The doctor has referred a patient to her calling her his associate and saying that she would perform the blood work. That sounded good, maybe... The PA is later portrayed as very knowledgeable, describing conditions of a patients illness. It is still not looking that great, but maybe not as bad as I first thought. I still really don't see them developing a good example of a PA through this character.

[Cobb31]

I am now enjoying the show now. The third episode is good watch it on hulu.com if you missed it. They might do okay with it, it seems they are slowly developing her role to become what it should.

[GD09335]

I think this may be the trend for PA's in the future- glorified medical assistants. I met a couple of recent grad Army PA's at a medical company in Baghdad a few years ago- personable, reasonably attractive female former Personnel and Finance Officers with no medical experience prior to PA school. Being Captains I thought they would be more clinically aware than they were. The independent duty paramedics I worked with and I learned to quickly bypass them and seek out a surgeon or NCOIC with clinical issues. But I have to say these PA's were nice to talk with for a few minutes.

[csmmedic]

So USA network seems to be very receptive to the PA community. They scripted the following into her Divya's dialogue the last episode:
"I am a certified physician assistant who is licensed to practice medicine. I can prescribe medications, order and interpret diagnostic tests and assist in surgery"

And than they had her go on to do a case solo. Bravo USA.

[Febrifuge]

I'm sure that was written, and probably filmed, before the first episode aired, so I wouldn't be too sure about chalking it up to their being "receptive." I've been harping on them via Facebook, Twitter, and reviews on my blog, and while I'd love to believe we've had an effect, the timing isn't quite right on that count.

Nonetheless, I was impressed, especially if they were smart and savvy enough to do that on their own. And the character of Divya is kind of hot when she's lecturing Evan for being an idiot.

[Joelseff]

Last Night I caught the beginning and tail end of the episode where they save some Senator's kid form a CVA or something and Hank looks at Divya and says "We have to think of your title..." and divya says "What's wrong with 'Physician Assistant'?" And hank replies: "People get too focused on the last part..." "How about Associate." Earlier in the show he asks her why she works for him and that she is so good she can work for any physician group in Manhattan. Gotta say I am liking the show right now!!! It actually represents (form what i have seen) the PA profession in a good way not some medical personal assistant, i do have a problem with how divya sometimes refers to herself as "Hank's Physician Assistant" but I guess in a way that is true so thumbs up on this show dont get me started on Nurse Jackie

[roman6163]

Last Night I caught the beginning and tail end of the episode where they save some Senator's kid form a CVA or something and Hank looks at Divya and says "We have to think of your title..." and divya says "What's wrong with 'Physician Assistant'?" And hank replies: "People get too focused on the last part..." "How about Associate." Earlier in the show he asks her why she works for him and that she is so good she can work for any physician group in Manhattan. Gotta say I am liking the show right now!!! It actually represents (form what i have seen) the PA profession in a good way not some medical personal assistant, i do have a problem with how divya sometimes refers to herself as "Hank's Physician Assistant" but I guess in a way that is true so thumbs up on this show dont get me started on Nurse Jackie

I agree. I've seen her character.

It looks like this portrayal is definitely helping people see the roles, intelligence level, education, and abilities of Physician Assistants.

So far, most of what the show has portrayed for her character has been quite positive.