10 things PA's wish Physicians Knew

[quarternote]

 

 

http://www.physicianspractice.com/blog/ten-things-physicians-should-know-about-pas-part-one

 

http://www.physicianspractice.com/blog/ten-things-physicians-should-know-about-pas-part-two

 

 

 

[Guest Paula]

Overall I rate this piece a B and it is written largely from a positive perspective.  A few editorial changes would have made this even better.  Such as:

 

Part One, No.4.  PAs will not open independent practice.  This is true because we can't by law.  This section discusses supervision and would have been the perfect place to introduce the physician to the concept of collaborative practice.  Highlighting aspects of modernization of PA practice in the VA system as one of collaboration instead of supervision would ease the physician reader into the idea that supervision is old and archaic model of medical care. 

 

Part Two, No. 3.  The sentence with the following....Over time, PAs almost develop their own practices within a practice.......  why is the word 'almost' in that sentence? Many PAs have their own practice within a practice and the physician never sees the patients.  What about those of us who have or are  now working as a solo provider in a rural or underserved area?  Is that not our own practice?  Yes, it is. The article would be much stronger with the deletion of this one small word. 

 

Part Two, No. 5.  ACA adding 32 million newly-insured patients into the health care system..... so far it is only 7 million and we don't know if they are really newly insured patients.  It could be an argument against us if the prediction of 32 million never materializes.   

 

Here is what I would write for Part 3:

 

1. PAs want physicians to know we don't want their profession but PAs want physicians to advocate for us to gain collaborative or collegial or cooperative practices on a statewide basis and to not fight us when we attempt to modernize our state laws.  Work with us, not against us.  If they do both of our professions will prosper.  If physician groups and organizations understand the reasons why we need LIP status (billing, credentialing, hospital privileges, scope of practice and the ability to work when our collaborating physician dies) then life will be better for all of us and the practices that hire us.

 

2. PAs want full recognition from insurance companies without having to bill through the physician NPI number.  Support us on these issues.  

 

3. Many PAs do not consider themselves an assistant.  The profession has evolved and proven itself over the last 50 years.  Do not hire us and abuse our positions. Support our efforts to find a meaningful  title that supports our ability to practice medicine.  

 

4.  Residency trained generalist PAs could be the answer to the physician shortage and thus allowing physicians to chose a specialty practice beyond the PCP.  Join the PAs in offering residency programs for us and support us as the answer to PC shortage (if it really exists), embrace us, train the upcoming newly minted PAs.  Remember we work in collaboration and have criteria we must adhere to ethically so we will refer to physicians, just like we do now. 

[KMD16]

Well written Paula!

[BruceBanner]

 

Here is what I would write for Part 3:

 

1. PAs want physicians to know we don't want their profession but PAs want physicians to advocate for us to gain collaborative or collegial or cooperative practices on a statewide basis and to not fight us when we attempt to modernize our state laws.  Work with us, not against us.  If they do both of our professions will prosper.  If physician groups and organizations understand the reasons why we need LIP status (billing, credentialing, hospital privileges, scope of practice and the ability to work when our collaborating physician dies) then life will be better for all of us and the practices that hire us.

 

2. PAs want full recognition from insurance companies without having to bill through the physician NPI number.  Support us on these issues.  

 

3. Many PAs do not consider themselves an assistant.  The profession has evolved and proven itself over the last 50 years.  Do not hire us and abuse our positions. Support our efforts to find a meaningful  title that supports our ability to practice medicine.  

 

4.  Residency trained generalist PAs could be the answer to the physician shortage and thus allowing physicians to chose a specialty practice beyond the PCP.  Join the PAs in offering residency programs for us and support us as the answer to PC shortage (if it really exists), embrace us, train the upcoming newly minted PAs.  Remember we work in collaboration and have criteria we must adhere to ethically so we will refer to physicians, just like we do now. 

 

I agree, especially the bold. Nobody goes to PA school to become a glorified errand boy/girl.

 

LIP status would benefit everyone, at least in the primary care realm. We aren't asking to practice specialties outside of EM, FM, IM independently. That's neither feasible nor appropriate. But I see no reason why a residency-trained PA or a PA with 3-5 years of documented primary care experience cannot practice general medicine independently from a billing and licensing standpoint. We will refer when we are out of our scope, just like many physicians. I have never met a PA who is too proud to refer when he/she is in over their head.