delco714 Posted June 14, 2016 Perhaps this has been discussed but certainly not recently. Rra/rpa are ever adapting professions. I've looked online regarding training and scope. However my concern.. There's a non op pseudo sports medicine company mostly in L.A. And nc called flexogenics. They are practices owned and run by a interventionalist, co managed by another and cfo is the owner's wife and she's a rra rpa. It seems there's oodles of rra rpa in these offices. Some IM docs, maybe one specials rad, and np pa. Additionally they seem to have DPTs and exercise physiologists.. My grief seems to be they appear to be using the rpa rra as PAs. Seem to be diagnosing and performing HPs and joint injections. The reason I care so much is on the service they look awesome to work for, offer great benefits, and my wife is interested in employment.. I'm maybe one to say if it's too good to be true.. I've done plenty of online due diligence already.. Whew. Thoughts?
PACdan Posted June 14, 2016 I had to look up "RPA", and wow I do not like their title or their snippy description: "The RPA acronym, however, has caused some confusion, since it sometimes has been incorrectly associated with the benefits and requirements of the physician assistant (PA) designation. Some radiology practices hire PAs and train them to perform radiology services. PAs differ from RRAs and RPAs in that PAs are qualified to receive a national physician identification number that allows them to bill separately for their services. A PA is trained in general medicine with little if any training in radiology, while an RPA’s training focuses on significant radiology training. PAs also are supervised by a physician within state-established limits. PAs may not function in a supervisory capacity; however, they may perform diagnostic tests under their own statutory benefits and state requirements for physician supervision." From: http://www.acr.org/Advocacy/Economics-Health-Policy/Billing-Coding/Coding-Source-List/2010/May-Jun-2010/Registered-Radiologist-Assistant-Radiologist-Practitioner-Assistant That wording makes it sound like RPAs are close to PAs in level of training and that the NPI # makes us distinct from them. Then it undercuts our radiology training in the next line. Maybe it should say something like "RPAs are not trained to examine, diagnosis, or treat patients in all areas of medicine like PAs". :/
delco714 Posted June 14, 2016 Author I had to look up "RPA", and wow I do not like their title or their snippy description: "The RPA acronym, however, has caused some confusion, since it sometimes has been incorrectly associated with the benefits and requirements of the physician assistant (PA) designation. Some radiology practices hire PAs and train them to perform radiology services. PAs differ from RRAs and RPAs in that PAs are qualified to receive a national physician identification number that allows them to bill separately for their services. A PA is trained in general medicine with little if any training in radiology, while an RPA’s training focuses on significant radiology training. PAs also are supervised by a physician within state-established limits. PAs may not function in a supervisory capacity; however, they may perform diagnostic tests under their own statutory benefits and state requirements for physician supervision." From: http://www.acr.org/Advocacy/Economics-Health-Policy/Billing-Coding/Coding-Source-List/2010/May-Jun-2010/Registered-Radiologist-Assistant-Radiologist-Practitioner-Assistant That wording makes it sound like RPAs are close to PAs in level of training and that the NPI # makes us distinct from them. Then it undercuts our radiology training in the next line. Maybe it should say something like "RPAs are not trained to examine, diagnosis, or treat patients in all areas of medicine like PAs". :/ The whole thing is strange. Essentially they kind of are a weird PA type provider. HOWEVER, as I see it... They cannot diagnose at all. They can either say abnormal or normal. They cannot treat. They cannot practice medicine outside the procedures and images they do and take. From what I can ascertain, they can take things out of a joint, like effusion, but they cannot inject something like synvisc They cannot do history and physicals either. They cannot bill under their own licence Looks like they are certainly amply trained to do procedures. Outside of that.. Like TREATING JOINT PAIN OR ARTHRITIS they and similarly, the IR docs have no right. That's where I think the internal med docs come in to the picture..then they fluff up the visit with dpt consults and exercise people looking at gait and treadmill. I don't want to say it's a scam but... There's something fishy here. It's a shame bc my wife is perfect for this role otherwise
PACdan Posted June 14, 2016 I bet they wear white coats. But yeah, I have never encountered an RPA or even heard of them before your post. From what I've heard here and elsewhere, spouses involved in the practice are also quite ominous too; referring to the owner's wife as CFO/RPA.
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