PA in FP

[Elysium]

I'm a long time member of SDN. Actually first found this site when it was nothing, back in '99. Been in and out through the years. I actually went to med school for a year and completely hated it, realized I didn't want to spend the four years in school and the 3+ years in residency with debt looming. Saw my friends, ex fiance, etc. go through all that and never, ever envied them for one second. Never regretted my decision to go to PA school. Was it anything like med school? HELL NO. Med school is a hell of a lot harder, with a crap load of endless crap thrown in that isn't relevant to basically anything of a clinical nature (which drove me nuts). I notice there is a lot of hate for midlevels here - which I find odd. First of all, PAs aren't trying to usurp your practice authority. We work in concert with you guys, unlike NP's, who are trying to BECOME DOCTORS through their own back asswards means. I never wanted to be called doctor, because I personally don't give a ****. All i cared about was taking care of patients, and I know my limitations. My dad is an internist, and, as most of you know, have superior knowledge in that area of medicine. I would never, ever claim to know as much as doc, nor would I present myself as one. I DON'T WANT TO BE A DOCTOR because I couldn't imagine dealing with all the crap you guys have to. I love just enjoying my patients, spending time with them, and going the hell home. I make quite a bit of money for my doc, because I'm good at coding (better than he is) and I allow him to take week long vacations to Ecuador and crap like that while I run the clinic. I don't practice outside my scope of practice, always refer or ask questions when I don't know (which I'm sure you guys do too) and deliver the best patient care I can.

So why all the hostility? I got into this forum because I thought you guys might be talking about relevant clinical issues or things you see in practice. I forgot that SDN is such an infantile bitch palace of soap box rantings and very little clinically relevant discussion. How depressing.

Whatever. I'm not getting into a flame war or any of that other stupid lame ****. So 2001. Just had much greater hopes for actual professionals, but I was looking in the wrong place.

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[The Janitor]

Your post is the most hostile one that I've seen here lately.

Ironic, isn't it?

 

[deleted87716]

I notice there is a lot of hate for midlevels here - which I find odd.

I find it odd that you think we "hate" mid-levels. I can't recall reading any particularly "hateful" threads or comments. Care to provide references?

I got into this forum because I thought you guys might be talking about relevant clinical issues or things you see in practice.

Most of the people here are medical students, although practice issues do come up occasionally. You might like the Practicing Physicians forum better for that sort of thing.

I was looking in the wrong place.

You might also try the Clinicians forum. That's where most of the mid-levels are.

 

[scubadoc78]

wow, sorry if i touched off a storm of anger in anybody on either side. my honest intent was to centralize the data supporting all arguments exactly to get past these emotionally charged arguments. they don't do anyone any good.
i love FPs and primary care. i love the flexibility and enjoy quarterbacking pt care. i'm at an enormous hospital now in which patients are lost in a sea of sub-sub-sub-specialists who are experts at the medial border of the left thumbnailectomies. i routinely see patients frustrated that they have no idea who came in to see them and what the plan is for their care.
part of my problem is there are midlevels who present themselves (at least at our hospital) as physicians (white coat, "Dr" title as a DNP, etc) and this confuses patients in so far as who to listen to. just this week i've seen an NP on our 'team' reverse orders without consulting the residents who wrote for them.
in my opinion (read opinion), too many hands in any process will only slow the process down and decrease quality of care. admittedly, there is a balance.

 

[eyesarecool]

If they are good, while also profitable, the more the better.

If he wants to vent about all the PA hate in FM, let him. That's more interesting than listening to FM docs complain about reimbursement. Also, here are some references:

Pawning your patients off on a mid-level isn't going to be considered a "win" by very many of them.

I'd rather supervise residents & medical students than mid-levels.

The patient isn't always the winner under under this system, some patients what to see a MD not a PA.

 

[Frijolero]

I have nothing to add, aside from the fact that my general mid-level disdain does not include PAs. That, and "bitch palace"? Awesome, I'll be attempting to incorporate that into my quotidian vernacular. Thank you.

Oh, and p.s., http://physician-assistant.advanceweb.com/editorial/content/editorial.aspx?CC=101913

 

[Neuronix]

Saw my .. ex fiance, etc. go through all that and never, ever envied them for one second.

He always did have an... ahem... interesting perspective on things