Wellness

[LilacTree]

I have seen my orthopedist on several occasions, in the hospital and in his office. I have seen his Physician's Assistant once to analyze a follow-up x-ray of my broken vertebrae. It doesn't bother me. She told me several times during the visit that if I wanted to see the doctor, she would summon him. I found her to be very well informed and empathetic. My daughter was with me and neither of us were insulted by this.

[Krimpette]

My doctor has been on leave of absence (her husband is very ill). All my quarterly checkups have been with the PA. My upcoming annual physical will be with the PA. She's extremely thorough and very competent. I trust her as much as I do my regular doc. However, when my regular doc comes back to work, I'll go back to her since I had been seeing her for several years before her LOA.

[Tinkrbl44]

On 2/7/2015 pupwhipped said:

A couple of weeks ago I saw an ortho surgeon for the first time for knee problems I've been having. I really liked this doctor and he ordered an MRI on my knee. I went back Friday to find out the results. To my surprise a very young woman comes in to see me. I was a bit distracted when she came in as I was looking at some blood test results pertaining to my dog who is seriously ill. Then I'm trying to shove the papers back into my purse when maybe she tells me who she is.....I think she said something like she works with Dr. Y. Anyway, I presumed she was a doctor who worked with him but wondered why I wasn't seeing MY doctor. Anyway, she explained the results of my MRI. We decided on a cortisone injection as a first step. She leaves the room and a technician comes in to lay out the injection materials and then puts iodine on my knee. At that point I asked her where was my Dr. Y. She said, "Oh he is here. But Marna usually does his follow-ups as he has to see sooooo many patients." HUH? I get the injection from this Marna and then I leave. I come home still assuming she is a younger doctor who assists only to find out when I go online to their site that she is a PA...a Physician's Assistant.

The more I think about this, the more I fume! I am given the results of my MRI from a physician's assistant instead of my doctor. Have any of you ever had a situation like this? What do you think? I think I am never going back there.

fumed pup

Pup, I hope you have stopped fuming ...... and are now aware of the changes physician's practices have made to be more accommodating to their patients. Doctors routinely do the diagnosis and treatment recommendations, and other highly trained staff can then do more routine treatments and spend more time explaining any questions you had. (A cortisone shot is a minor, routine treatment!)

In any event, you COULD have asked for the doctor, or asked Marna to repeat anything you didn't hear.

BTW ...... the last time I called for an appointment for a very routine prescription refill, I was told it would be a 6 week wait to see the MD ..... but I could have an appt with the PA in 5 days.

I went with the PA (who has been in that office for at least 12 years), and was very please with the time she spent with me, including discussing new medication options, if I was interested. .... Very, very thorough!

[RedTop]

This is normal procedure in my area. Both my husband and I receive our medical care through a PA, and have for years; my husband receives his healthcare through the VA.

[GaGa1960]

On 2/7/2015 pupwhipped said:

On 2/7/2015 ellaphant said:

While PAs are well trained, I wold not want a diagnosis given to me by a PA. Sorry, that's just me. A shot is one thing, but not the diagnosis.

I think this is the most intelligent response I have gotten thus far.

Thank you, ellaphant. I agree.

Trust me your MRI was read by a board certified Radiologist and your Dr also looked at it and the dictated report. The PA just did what he or she was told by the physician. They are more than capable of giving a simple steroid injection. If they feel something is amiss they have the DR right there and are working under his direction.

[GaGa1960]

On 2/8/2015 NYwoman said:

On 2/7/2015 shaina said:

I have 2 objections to seeing a PA or NP:

1) I still get charged the same as if I saw the doctor. This probably isn't a popular opinion, but shouldn't I get a discount for seeing someone less qualified etc? Isnt part of the high healthcare costs supposed to be because doctors spend so much time and money earning their qualifications. Less qualifications should equal a lesser bill IMO.

2) On more than one occasion I've agreed to see the PA or NP at my dermatologist's office, and gotten completely different recommendations and advice. The PA told me I needed to stop taking an oral medication that my MD told me I could take as long as I'm not thinking of becoming pregnant. I got a scolding for taking it for so long and she gave me so much grief before she wrote me a refill. I wanted to say, "don't you talk to Dr. ___?" After that happened, I always schedule my appointments with the MD and won't see the PA or NP when they ask me to switch.

I totally agree with you about being charged for a "specialist" co-pay and actually seeing a NP. That is not right!

I had a problem with a kidney stone (my second) and I had to go to an Urgent Care center where I was charged for a "specialist" (who was a NP) who took a urine sample and only gave me a pill that colors my urine! No pain meds!!!! And all I needed was a mild pain med. I had to scream in pain for 3 days (weekend), doubled over, till I passed a stone the size of a pave gem! I made a complaint to the state medical board.

I am on Medicare and, therefore, get stuck with a PA or NP. I don't mind seeing them for a pelvic or routine visits. But, for a diagnosis, I want an MD. I can go on and on with mistakes made by PAs.

My orthopedic surgeon always sees me at every visit. But I go to Hospital for Special Surgery.

Sorry, but I find with the requirements (added paperwork) and pay amount restrictions on physicians (mandated for Medicare) caused by O'care and, therefore, more use of PA and NP s. I do not see that they are equivalent to an MD at all. O'care has cannibalized Medicare to pay for care for others. BTW, I actually read the bill. And I belong to a surgeon group and hear their reactions to it.

I am a degreed paralegal. I am not allowed to perform certain functions, as it should be. Would you want a paralegal to represent you at trial? Would you want them to do the planning and decision making part of your defense? And we do not get paid on the same scale as the attorney, as it should be, for our work.

Your office visit is coded by the procedure with a CPT code doesn't matter who you see.

[GaGa1960]

I don't understand why the original poster is so upset. People get in a tizz over the most mundane things LOL

[LexPex]

Pupwhipped, this is exactly what happens when I go to my ortho doctor, although the last time he gave me the shot since his PA was busy. Actually as much as I like him, I think I like his PA more...maybe cause it is a woman.

I think you were distracted and she surely introduced herself. Since she probably does most of the procedures you are better off.

SO, I think you are overreacting.

Hope your fur baby is doing well.

[scotnovel]

If you were distracted when she introduced herself, then why didn't you just ask her to clarify. You are paying for a service and I don't understand why so many people simply don't ask for clarification when they don't understand something. There have been so many posts, not just about doctors but even about nail techs, stylists, etc., where the poster expresses concern but doesn't bother to ask or to TELL the person what they needed or wanted.

It can be done very politely and directly, RIGHT THEN when you have the concern, not later asking someone else. For example, "I'm sorry, I was distracted when you introduced yourself. Can you tell me again who you are and are you one of the doctors here? Is there any reason that I'm not seeing my surgeon for my follow up?"

[Happydays]

I think you need to give her more credit. I have had several PA's in the last 10 years and liked their care better then the doctor in some cases.