PAs only do the dirty work?

[reese07]

I heard that even though PA's are able to do basically what MD's do, they mainly do the dirty work that MD's dont like doing. To what extent is that true? Are PA duties basically treating common patients with colds and yearly check ups? I want my duties to be similar to that of an MD specializing in internal medicine, where you are challenged with complex diagnoses and mysteries, and all that jazz. Will becoming a PA be satisfying for me?

 

[Paseo Del Norte]

If you want to play doctor, perhaps you should go to medical school? To answer part of your question, you will find many challenging and progressive jobs as a Physician Assistant.

To clarify your stance, physician assistants are not typically doing the "dirty work," the dirty work is typically completed by nurses and allied health providers. ( No disrespect )

 

[deleted6669]

You're probably on the wrong board asking this kind of a question. There is a big "SDN for PAs" site out there that you can probably find with a google search. They'll have far more specific information, because they actually work in the field.

that would be www.physicianassistantforum.com
and they asked the queswtion there already as well...

 

[chman]

It depends what your definition of dirty work is. Do they change diapers all day, no. Do they get work passed on them that some docs don't want to do, sometimes. It really depends on where you are working.

 

[leorl]

Remember to please keep your posts civil and courteous.

In the Emergency Room, PA's do exactly the same as the rest of us residents. In fact, their scope of practice might be slightly larger as they are covered by their own insurance. They do not have the same onus to constantly study for exams, etc. but they are just as enthusiastic in learning to increase their own clinical practice capabilities. If PA's did not exist, you can bet that ERs / residencies / residency education would suffer.

 

[schutzhund]

Remember to please keep your posts civil and courteous.

In the Emergency Room, PA's do exactly the same as the rest of us residents. In fact, their scope of practice might be slightly larger as they are covered by their own insurance. They do not have the same onus to constantly study for exams, etc. but they are just as enthusiastic in learning to increase their own clinical practice capabilities. If PA's did not exist, you can bet that ERs / residencies / residency education would suffer.

I'm not sure where you are but I've never seen PAs function the same as a resident, certainly not an EM resident. I could see PAs functioning around the same level as an off service resident but no where near a 2nd or 3rd year EM resident.

Most places have PAs see fast-track type patients. I have no issues with that. In fact, I agree with you. The PAs tend to see a lot of lower acuity patients so the EM residents can see the sicker patients.

 

[medic25]

I'm not sure where you are but I've never seen PAs function the same as a resident, certainly not an EM resident. I could see PAs functioning around the same level as an off service resident but no where near a 2nd or 3rd year EM resident.

Most places have PAs see fast-track type patients. I have no issues with that. In fact, I agree with you. The PAs tend to see a lot of lower acuity patients so the EM residents can see the sicker patients.

It all depends on where you are working. At my institutions, PA's see main ED patients and run traumas, just like our EM PGY-2's. At our satellite ED (staffed by EM attendings and PA's), we can see anyone who walks in the door. I also have several colleagues at other institutions where PA's manage "critical care" patients in the ED, such as codes, STEMI's, etc.

 

[deleted6669]

It all depends on where you are working. At my institutions, PA's see main ED patients and run traumas, just like our EM PGY-2's. At our satellite ED (staffed by EM attendings and PA's), we can see anyone who walks in the door. I also have several colleagues at other institutions where PA's manage "critical care" patients in the ED, such as codes, STEMI's, etc.

agree- I work at 5 places with a different scope of practice at each:
job 1(primary job): solo in 28k pt/yr dept (night shifts): whatever comes in the door; codes, traumas, mi's, etc
job 2(per diem): community hospital: mostly fast track with a bit of belly pain. I only do this job because the pay is truly outrageous. I have been there for 13 yrs and it's a union gig with twice/yr guaranteed raises so I now make $5 more/hr than the docs.
job 3 (level 1 trauma ctr per diem): main dept, night shifts. alternate pts in the rack with the docs; elderly, trauma, septic, etc
job 4(secondary job) : level 2 trauma ctr: anything but codes/multisystem traumami/cva's. I also do treadmills and teach md residents here.
job 5(rural/critical access e.d.1 weekend/mo.) alternate charts with the doc. similar to job at level 1 ctr. manage my own trauma and icu players, etc.

 

[deleted6669]

Remember to please keep your posts civil and courteous.

In the Emergency Room, PA's do exactly the same as the rest of us residents. In fact, their scope of practice might be slightly larger as they are covered by their own insurance. They do not have the same onus to constantly study for exams, etc. but they are just as enthusiastic in learning to increase their own clinical practice capabilities. If PA's did not exist, you can bet that ERs / residencies / residency education would suffer.

thank you for posting this