Signing/Co-Signatures

[JohnFerguson]

Is it appropriate to sign John Ferguson, PA-C on all my correspondence, notes, charts, etc. and have my SP sign XX XXXXX, M.D. OR do I need to sign John Ferguson, PA-C for XX XXXXX, M.D.??

[Guest Paula]

If you are a student you can sign John Ferguson, PA-S, on notes, charts, not PA-C. IF you are still a student and are writing scripts you cannot sign them at all, your preceptor needs to sign.

[JohnFerguson]

Paula,

 

I am actually a certified PA at this point.

[EMEDPA]

just sign your name + pa-c and your sp will cosign if required.

[rcdavis]

I dunno, I have not been adding the sp at all..

 

Dear ms smuckatelli,

 

I have reviewed you labs and studies from your physical last week, and am pleased to report that everything looks great!

Continue your daily exercise routine, and take your medicine as prescribed.

We will check you lipids and hemoglobin A1c at your next visit, so please don't eat anything after midnight before your 8:15 appointment.

 

Call me if you have any questions..

 

 

 

RC Davis PA-C

 

 

Dear dr. Smith,

 

I had the pleasure of seeing your patient Mr Jones, whom you referred to the ER last night for repair of a complex laceration.

 

I am happy to report the repair went well, there was no deep structural involvement, and he should recover without any disability.

 

I will see in in our outpatient clinic for suture removal.

 

Thanks for the referral.

 

RC Davis, PAC

 

in neither case do I routinely mention the SP, unless the SP was directly involved in the

Care of the patient.

 

In which case I would send

 

Dear dr jones,

 

Dr godalmighty and I had the pleasure of evaluating your patient Ms smith for her chest pain and dyspnea. We discovered that she has had multiple pulmonary embolii, and have admitted her to the hospital for coagulation studies and anticoagulation.

 

I will forward you a copy of her discharge summary as soon as it is available.

 

I have told her her that your high index of suspicion and diagnostic ability probably saved her life.

 

Regards,

 

 

 

RC Davis, PA-C

 

I have had little blow back in these types of correspondence, and find that they go a long way helping The local docs accept PAs as being more than hand maidens.

[Teasip]

In my correspondence to patients I only include my name, etc. since I'm the one communicating to them. If it is a referral to the ED from our clinic, or a referral to a specialist/PCP, as a courtesy I provide them clinical information regarding the nature for the referral and then I'll put my name/SP. Now, whether the referral provider ever reads it or not, who knows?