need to vent

[sleepysnapper]

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Hey guys, I just wanted to vent about the things I hear from many non-MD personnel like PA's, CRNA's, optometrists, etc. I know that I am over generalizing but I just needed to vent after having heard so many times from non-MD's how much better they are than medical doctors at treating patients. I had one PA tell me as a resident that he was "above rank" over the residents at his institution and how he feels better trained than a M.D. I have had optometrist make fun of Optho. MD's, especially residents for how inept they are in doing eye exams. As a resident, I feel often times many of these people feel it's their time to make fun of or ridicule residents, especially interns fresh out of med school or 3rd and fourth year med school students. Even when I went to student health, a PA saw me and when he found out that I was a medical student he starting giving me this attitude about how much more he knew them me. I also have witnessed this with CRNA's and often their remarks about how inept residents are. I think many of them see it as their window of opportunity to take out their hangs ups about not having M.D. after their name. They forget that we are still in training! I have met many CRNA's, optometrist, PA's who are very nice and do not do this but a select few of tem seem to have this chip on their shoulder and it's really annoying dealin with it. Thanks for hearing me out!

 

[Hedwig]

Chalk it up to ego. I'm a post-bacc premed at a school with PT, OT, PA, and RN programs, and I'm in classes with all of these students. I've heard comments from one or two of them--PA students in this case--about how it's pointless to have an MD or a DO after your name when a PA is "just as good," and PT students make snide remarks about DOs (there's an osteopathic medical school on campus here) because "OMM is just another name for physical therapy," which is sort of true--OMM is essentially really in-depth physical therapy--but you get my point. Just ignore it. You know the value of being at the top of the medical food chain as an MD or DO. And think of it from the perspective of allied health professionals: everybody wants to feel that they're important in life. So let them feel like they're big shots. In the end, you'll be making 3x their salary and getting 1000x the respect.

 

[deleted6669]

sleepysnapper-I'm sorry that you have had a few bad interactions with PA's. we don't all think that we know everything. in fact some pa's(like me) go on to attend md/do programs to further their pursuit of knowledge.
please realize however that there are times/situations/places in which PA housestaff are considered senior to residents and do know more about a specific area than a new resident. in 1 of my prior jobs I was a clinical preceptor in an FP residency program. all of the interns had to do a rotation with the pa's in the fast track portion of the ER in which we taught them basic procedural skills(digital blocks,suturing,abscess care,ingrown toenail removal etc). they had to present their patients to us and we had to oversee their treatment and sign their charts in addition to writing an eval on them at the end of the rotation; so it does happen. of course they knew much more than we did about inpatient management, infectious disease, etc.
I don't mean to flame you here, I know you meant well, but most of the pa related threads on this site always end up being"why pa's suck and how they kill people". most of us enjoy a collegial relationship with physicians and enjoy a team approach to care. good luck in your studies.

 

[Freeeedom!]

Well, I think we all know the true answer, and I think the PA's do as well...that is why they are called assistant (if we call them by their title "PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT" rather than "PA", then perhaps humility will return to their lips!). Most PA's aren't like that, and they understand they are not physicians ( at least I hope they do). They also realize people make snide remarks behind their backs as well ( i have encountered many other professionals that really make fun of the PA's). Everyone has a story of some PA or NP that has missed the most elementary problems. And most patients also understand that a PHYSICIAN equals higher learning and superior care. As far as the statement regarding "fast track" junk...I have never heard of ANY resident presenting a patient to a PA...that doesn't even make sense?!
Who cares what an optometrist says, their job consists of ..."is this one better or is this one better...ok, now read the letters."
And as a former PT, well, most just don't realize how little they know. i thought I was pretty smart until I was humbled in med school. This is of course a problem that will not likely mend itself .

 

[denise]

I am an Intern and I work with a Physician Assistant right now, (one day a week during my FP clinic office). She is GREAT!!! This is what I mean, she always speaks of me as Dr. Merzouk, she ALWAYS runs things buy me (kind of like, what do you think of this), and being the fact I am going into OB/GYN, she checks with me for all female issues. Sometimes I am like "Pam, who have been in this longer than me, you tell me what to do". Her respect for me has led to a great relationship! I do not think I am better than her, actually, I am sure she knows more practical stuff like dosing of drugs (where I still look them up). The fact is, she realizes and respects the education we go through. I think she is one of the smartest PA's I have ever met. On the other hand, I do realize, there are many whom think they are DRs, and they crate the attitudes!! I guess there is good and bad to all

 

[passngas]

I worked in the paramedical field in the military before attending medical school, so I know what it is like to work in a field of medicine that you feel comfortable with but not really know all the details of that field. I used to think I knew quite alot about medicine and physiology. But I realize now more than ever that "A little bit of knowledge is a dangerous thing." Unfortunately I think that is where many of the so called "professionals" are coming from when they think they know just as much as their physician counterparts. It is one thing to be incompetent or just unsure of your skills and training. It is quite another to not even realize what you don't know. I bet this is the problem that some of the people you have encountered have.

I too have met people like the ones you describe. All I can do is smile and thank them for their input. They obviously have issues about their chosen career path. Thankfully, the large majority of the PA's, FNP's and pharmacists I have worked with are both highly skilled and well aware of their limitations.

You are or will be the physician. In the end, there is no ambiguity about that!