Guest hasanm1 Posted June 13, 2009 Share Posted June 13, 2009 i was looking on Pa jobs.net and i saw that there were very few derm jobs available, 1 to be exact based on this is the competition high to get this job. Also if it is hard does that mean pay will be low because of the higher competition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jasmyn8 Posted June 15, 2009 Share Posted June 15, 2009 i was looking on Pa jobs.net and i saw that there were very few derm jobs available, 1 to be exact based on this is the competition high to get this job. Also if it is hard does that mean pay will be low because of the higher competition. where can I find more info about this. email me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkansas Ranger Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 What do PAs do with dermatology anyway? I have very limited experience with dermatologists, but my visit to the clinic years ago made me think it was the easiest, cushiest job in healthcare. I really don't see how a derm could be strained enough to need a PA at this point. So...what do you do there? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andersenpa Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 What do PAs do with dermatology anyway? I have very limited experience with dermatologists, but my visit to the clinic years ago made me think it was the easiest, cushiest job in healthcare. I really don't see how a derm could be strained enough to need a PA at this point. So...what do you do there? Derm PAs carry their own case loads and can be heavily involved in procedures- laser etc.... There's a few derm PAs here hopefully one will chime in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregoryHousePA Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 I worked as a med asst in derm both with the physicians and PA. The PAs have their own schedules and the only pts they didn't see were some of the surgeries. Otherwise there was zero difference between them and the docs. There is a lot of psoriasis, eczema, acne, warts, total body exams. You do a lot of skin biopsies. Our office specialized in hair loss so we saw tons of alopecia areata and androgenic alopecia. Although the extent we went to for tx wasn't common for other derms. the biopsies get old fast because you do so many of them. the surgeries can be cool though. they're nice a straightforward with small risk of complications. My personal favorite was getting an MRSA patients or taking care of some nasty abscesses. And then of course you get a sprinkling of STDs just to keep it interesting. And then of course there was plenty of botox, not as much laser as you would think, at least not in our office. I know some places have the PAs do laser hair removal, but we just had a licensed aesthetician see those clients. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkansas Ranger Posted June 25, 2009 Share Posted June 25, 2009 I worked as a med asst in derm both with the physicians and PA. The PAs have their own schedules and the only pts they didn't see were some of the surgeries. Otherwise there was zero difference between them and the docs. There is a lot of psoriasis, eczema, acne, warts, total body exams. You do a lot of skin biopsies. Our office specialized in hair loss so we saw tons of alopecia areata and androgenic alopecia. Although the extent we went to for tx wasn't common for other derms. the biopsies get old fast because you do so many of them. the surgeries can be cool though. they're nice a straightforward with small risk of complications. My personal favorite was getting an MRSA patients or taking care of some nasty abscesses. And then of course you get a sprinkling of STDs just to keep it interesting. And then of course there was plenty of botox, not as much laser as you would think, at least not in our office. I know some places have the PAs do laser hair removal, but we just had a licensed aesthetician see those clients. LOL. silly question here....does that laser work on whisker hair oh say around a man's adam's apple where a guy (ME) has a 24/7 shaving rash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregoryHousePA Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 laser works on dark hair, including male facial hair. in fact you can sometimes even get your insurance to cover the laser treatment for pseudofolliculitis barbae. but there are other topical treatments to try before that. i believe we would recommend applying tretinoin s/p shaving. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkansas Ranger Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 laser works on dark hair, including male facial hair. in fact you can sometimes even get your insurance to cover the laser treatment for pseudofolliculitis barbae. but there are other topical treatments to try before that. i believe we would recommend applying tretinoin s/p shaving. Cool. Thanks. Is that something I can pick up at Walgreen's? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregoryHousePA Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 no. tretinoin is by Rx only. It's more commonly known as Retin-A and other brand names. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d2305 Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 The 755 laser works on pigmented lesions where the 1064 destroys non-pigmented lesions. If you want hair removal, get it done before you're a gray beard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arkansas Ranger Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 The 755 laser works on pigmented lesions where the 1064 destroys non-pigmented lesions. If you want hair removal, get it done before you're a gray beard. Well, I'm 27, and no gray hair there although my barber tells me I have several on the crown of my head. I don't know that I'll have this done. I was just curious although it would be nice to no longer for my Adam's Apple to not actually be red, lol...from the shaving problems. I don't know why that area, particularly just to the left of it, has never adapted to the taking the blade. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PADave Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 Speaking as someone on the east coast...dermatology appointments are near impossible to get these days. As an established patient....not to uncommon to wait over 3 months to be seen, and not many are taking new patients. As a PA working in derm, I have my own patient load, usually 30-35 patients a day. Our practice is primarily a medical and surgical derm practice (not much cosmetic). I do biopsies, see routine skin checks, rashes, moles, psoriasis, as well as skin cancers. I work at a practice that does Mohs surgery, for which i sometimes assist with the repairs. Most days i see patient from 8:30-5 and then leave 2 spots at the end of the day for any scheduled excisions requiring involved suturing at the end of the day. My SP only steps in when I need him. He sees his own patients. The practice also uses the Eximer laser for psoriasis patients, for which, I treat all the patients. I take call over the weekend once a month (for our surgical patients). So just like any other specialty, there is certainly a role for PAs in dermatology to improve access to healthcare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tyrus25 Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 padave, may i ask how much you get compensated? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maldo Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 PA DAVE. Are you pleased with your choice in Derm? DO you feel valued, enough opportunity for progressing your knowledge? Do you feel concerned about taking your PANRE being in this specialty? What do you see the future of PA in Derm being as the # of graduating Derm MD's continue to decline? I am just interested in possibly making a move Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregoryHousePA Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 the number of derm MD's is declining? I would double check that because Derm is one of the hardest specialties to get into. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maldo Posted June 29, 2009 Share Posted June 29, 2009 That is true...it is a very competitive specialty for MD's, but as far as what I've read, the residency spaces are so severely limited that it is keeping the production of Derms too low. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PADave Posted June 30, 2009 Share Posted June 30, 2009 The number of dermatologist is not declining, however, the number of derm residencies and fellowships has not increased to meet the demand, and therefore is more competetive for physicians to get into. With the aging poplulation, there are some areas of the country with significant shortages in dermatology appointments, espically for medical or surgical reasons (vs cosmetic appointments which are more easty to come by.) I think that the PA can play a role in this specialty to do exactly what I am doing currently, which i improve access to healthcare. As someone that is not "new" to the medical field, having worked as an RRT for 8 years at a major university hospital, and as an former ECMO perfusionist, the novilty of critical care medicine has not been wasted on me. I have seen that side of medicine and worked many a night shift, weekend, call and holiday. I have learned much. Am I worried about working in such a microspecialty, yes...and no. Am I worried that I may not have the lastes BP or diabetes management changes at the tip of my tongue.? yeah, sure. But this would be no different then a PA wokring in Ortho or urology. Am I worried come time for the PANRE i don't have the full neuro assesment or mini mental comeplety memorized, sure. However, I am dilgient with my CMEs and make sure the bulk are not derm related. Did I see myself working in Derm when I applied to PA school?...no. I had always been interested, and fortunately I have had the opportunity to work in this great field. Life changes, priorities change, and fortunatley we all work in a profession that is malleable enought to accomadate these changes. Oh...tyrus25...I am on salary and get a quarterly production bonus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lookin2BaPA Posted July 11, 2009 Share Posted July 11, 2009 My personal favorite was getting an MRSA patients or taking care of some nasty abscesses. And then of course you get a sprinkling of STDs just to keep it interesting. i hear those abscesses can STINK!! lol sprinkling of STD's..that made me lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TravelerPA Posted July 17, 2009 Share Posted July 17, 2009 I am a current derm PA who went into derm right after graduation. I do worry at times that I didn't spend a year to 2 in general medicine, and I do think it will be a rude awakening if I ever go back into primary care. However, overall, I love my job and my specialty. I see mainly medical/surgical cases, with a splattering of cosmetics. I see a lot of preventative screenings, skin cancer, psoriasis, eczema, acne, warts, abscesses, hair loss, drug/viral eruptions, folliculitis, pigmentation disorders, hyperhidrosis, lupus erythematosus, rosacea/perioral dermatitis, fungal infections, nail dystrophy, and connective tissue diseases (scleroderma, dermatomyositis, CREST etc). But we also get more interesting cases everyday to keep me on my toes. This morning I saw a 5 day old newborn with a form of epidermolysis bullosa simplex...which was a great case. For me, it is a good mix of patient care and procedures. It is hard for me to imagine working in primary care, and having to address so much more in the same time slot- I don't know how you all do it! I get to be pretty thorough- which my patients and I appreciate. But I do realize I am using maybe 1% of what I learned in PA school, and ALWAYS thought I would go into PC/EM/Internal med when I was in school. How things change. Ahhh- alas, the compensation. Derm MDs make ridiculous money- way too much for what they do. My docs are in the multi-million each. Derm PAs in my area also do very well by PA standards, especially those with good productivity bonus structure. We are generally at the top 5% of what PAs have potential to make. The money is a plus. Lastly- I have no call/nights/weekends and do hospital consults a few times a year. It is a fun specialty for me, but I wonder what I will think long term. Time will tell... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest GrayMatters Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 I did a derm rotation in FL. The SP was working his "retirement" job - an organized practice with many locations, he rotated among 3 (he'd had his own for decades, but by this point he was 'just' an employee without the headaches of being a business owner). Specialists (eg, for Moh's, follicular transplants) also rotated, so every facility offered almost everything. He'd usually see patients initially (that helped with pt's first impressions, but also for referring doc's who don't like to refer a pt to a PA) and they'd follow up with the PA, but the PAs also saw a lot of 1st time pt's. He didn't do surgery anymore, and one of the locations had a PA who did nothing but surgical procedures all day. Patients could always get in within a week, even new ones. There were several PAs or NPs per location, and all had their schedules filled. Remember this was Fl, so there's never a shortage of patients. He told me his job was to build up the PAs practice. There were more PAs and NPs than docs - they'd work at the same facility all week. The NP there said it was hard to get jobs because the competition was so high because the pay was so high. On the other side, I have a friend in upstate NY who is an NP. Her aunt had a suspicious mole, and even with a history of melanoma and her niece the NP trying to get her an appt, she had to wait 6 weeks. What derm doc DOESN'T need a PA?! She told me to move there and work as a PA so she could get her patients in........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest mamonroe Posted October 8, 2009 Share Posted October 8, 2009 DERM PA JOBS: It's easier for a PA to find a derm job that for a dermatologist to find a PA, in my experience of helping PAs find those derm jobs and dermatologists find those PAs, altho i am not a recruiter. I maintain a list of derm PA jobs and a list of PAs looking for derm jobs. I charge no fees to the PAs or the docs. What state are you interested in???--mary monroe www.pacifier.com/~jomonroe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwpa Posted October 26, 2009 Share Posted October 26, 2009 I have been in derm as an MA or a PA for 20 years. There is never a dull moment. Lot's of routine stuff to get comfortable with as well as new stuff to keep you on your toes. Finding a melanoma is always something to feel good about. It is competitive since there is a shortage of derm docs. The pay is good. Some better than others if they do cosmetics, but then they have to deal with those patients. I have my own panel of patients, do surgeries, including excising melanoma and see new patients. The doc helps when I ask. There is a steep learning curve. It is not a cushy job, always patients stacked up. Currently a 6 month wait for new patients, though we can get them within a day or two if the referring doc asks. But generally no after hours work and rare call. By the way I scored better on my PANRE than on my PANCE with only one year of primary care/urgent care before returning to derm. Those interested in derm should check out dermpa.org the website for derm PAs. Info about jobs, how to train and CME. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Equity Space Posted May 2, 2010 Share Posted May 2, 2010 The American Academy of Dermatology is a good place to network with thousands of Dermatologist across the nation. There you may be able to find what you're looking for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joebird23 Posted December 22, 2010 Share Posted December 22, 2010 For those of you working in Derm as a PA's currently does your job also hire NPs??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwpa Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 No, but some do. See dermpa.org society of derm PAs or the derm nurses association. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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