[Yosemite]

Almost every day I see an ad in the Daily Sun for Dr. Gurgen, a dermatologist. He has good reviews here and on healthgrades.com. So, I call for an appointment and the person answering the phone states that Dr. Gurgen is not seeing patients, I can see the Nurse Practitioner or the Physician Assistant. I don't want to start a discussion here about the capabilities of PAs and ARNPs; I'm just amazed that a Dr. would go to the cost of advertising in the Daily Sun and then not want to see the people who call his office in response to the ad. Really, what's the point?

[asianthree]

Still gets new patients, and I am banking if the PA or NP can't handle it you are going to see the doctor at some point.

[Villager Joyce]

Would it make a difference if your doctor sent a referral?

[Bogie Shooter]

I see a PA at my dermatologist. If there is a question the doc comes in, seems to work for me.

[Mikeod]

That's pretty much standard procedure. Patients are seen by the NP or PA. If something is detected or suspicious, either the doctor is consulted or a biopsy done. If surgery is indicated, the doctor does it. If Dr. Gurgen didn't have confidence in the capability of his NP or PA, they wouldn't be there. It's his license on the line.

I was a patient of Dr. Gurgen when he was at Advanced Dermatology. Took great care of me, including doing an enhancement on aprevious surgery done elsewhere that made the scar much less noticeable.