[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by markusmom

Someone with a PA degree completes the first two years of medical school, lectures and bookwork. They gain most of their experience while working in the doctor's office.

So does a doctor.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by dewilson58

So does a doctor.

Never go to the Hospital in July...

That's when the new Medical Residents show up...

[mgkw1]

My doctor has a PA that sees patients for follow up visits or illness visits. My yearly have always been with my doctor. The PA I see if wonderful, he is knowledgeable, asks the right questions and has always been spot on with treatment. In Jan I got covid and the Dr was not available, I dealt with his NP. Not having had good experiences with them in the past I was apprehensive. This woman was wonderful, She listened ...... Not just oh these are your symptoms, lets see what the book says. I can honestly say I like my physician, PA and NP. I must be one of the lucky ones

[Golfer222]

As a physician, I have worked with many PAs and NPs. Some are very good and some are very bad. But even the best are not even close to a physician. They lack the rigorous training ( both didactic and clinical) required to be a doctor. I did 4 years of medical school, 3 years of residency and 4 years of fellowship to subspecialize.
Even the most simple symptoms requires a differential diagnosis to exclude rare diseases. This is where I see the most difference. Most Pas and NPs will think of the top couple of diagnoses ( which are usually correct) but fail to exclude more rare causes, which can be fatal if not recognized. Essentially, they do not know what they do not know. Most URIs leave the office with a z-pack and a medrol dose pack , even though it is a viral illness. For any medical appointment I have, I always request a physician. If the office says I have to see a PA/NP, I politely decline and look elsewhere. Just my 2 cents from being in the trenches

[Golfer222]

Also, you have a right to determine who you see, although it may mean a later appointment

[Golfer222]

Would you want your plane flown by a "Pilot assistant" with 1/100 of the training of a certified pilot?

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Golfer222

As a physician, I have worked with many PAs and NPs. Some are very good and some are very bad. But even the best are not even close to a physician. They lack the rigorous training ( both didactic and clinical) required to be a doctor. I did 4 years of medical school, 3 years of residency and 4 years of fellowship to subspecialize.
Even the most simple symptoms requires a differential diagnosis to exclude rare diseases. This is where I see the most difference. Most Pas and NPs will think of the top couple of diagnoses ( which are usually correct) but fail to exclude more rare causes, which can be fatal if not recognized. Essentially, they do not know what they do not know. Most URIs leave the office with a z-pack and a medrol dose pack , even though it is a viral illness. For any medical appointment I have, I always request a physician. If the office says I have to see a PA/NP, I politely decline and look elsewhere. Just my 2 cents from being in the trenches

If I come in with an angry wound on my arm from a cut that is taking too long to heal and looks to have a bit of pus forming on one end, I'm going to trust the PA to a) assess that yes, it's an angry wound, b) it should/shouldn't need stitches, and c) it's definitely infected.

Other than the stitches, it's something even I, with no medical school at all, can figure out.

I'll trust the PA to a) clean the wound, b) stitch or not, depending on what it needs, c) dress the wound, and d) send me home with an rx for antibiotics OR give me an antibiotic shot if he/she thinks it's necessary OR recommend I redress with antibiotic ointment a few times a day for the next few days.

I'll trust that the PA is sufficiently trained in basic first aid and non-emergency wound care.

I'll also trust that if I insisted that only an MD could possibly handle this, the MD would likely be really annoyed that I wasted his/her time with a cut when the PA was perfectly capable of handling it.