Why not employ more physician assistants?

[eyesarecool]

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I was just curious as to why more family medicine doctors don't follow some kind of dentistry hybrid. Wouldn't having three physician assistants seeing patients, while having the doctor walking from room to room where needed be a good idea?

 

[deleted87716]

I was just curious as to why more family medicine doctors don't follow some kind of dentistry hybrid. Wouldn't having three physician assistants seeing patients, while having the doctor walking from room to room where needed be a good idea?

Dental hygienists are basically the equivalent of our office nurses/MAs, not mid-levels like a PA or NP. There's no equivalent to a mid-level in dentistry.

Besides, I already have three exam rooms.

I have no interest in supervising mid-levels. If I wanted to do that, I would've gone into anesthesiology. 😉

 

[eyesarecool]

Three PAs could add around $360,000 to the practice's total revenue. After paying out salaries, you got around $100,000 left. I know that your addition to total revenue would suffer due to supervision duties, but it wouldn't suffer near $100,000. Your patients are also winners in this situation, because they get lower fees and more clinical time out of it.

 

[andwhat]

Dental hygienists are basically the equivalent of our office nurses/MAs, not mid-levels like a PA or NP. There's no equivalent to a mid-level in dentistry.

Besides, I already have three exam rooms.

I have no interest in supervising mid-levels. If I wanted to do that, I would've gone into anesthesiology. 😉

ditto that.

 

[texdoc]

. Your patients are also winners in this situation, because they get lower fees and more clinical time out of it.

The patient isn't always the winner under under this system, some patients what to see a MD not a PA. Also if the patient has insurance its the same copay if you see an MD or PA.

 

[deleted87716]

Three PAs could add around $360,000 to the practice's total revenue. After paying out salaries, you got around $100,000 left.

A full-time mid-level would likely require an additional FTE to support them. At a cost of around $25,000 per year times three for three FTEs (total of $75,000), that would only leave $25,000 of your hypothetical $100,000. I could earn that much seeing a couple more patients per day instead of supervising and doing chart reviews.

No, thanks.

Pawning your patients off on a mid-level isn't going to be considered a "win" by very many of them. As for "more clinical time," for a mid-level to earn their keep, they're going to have to see patients at pretty much the same pace as a physician would. No "win" there, either.

 

[eyesarecool]

How about having an Ideal Medical Practice where the PA has 10 patients a day, thus paying for their salary and a little more, while also helping you with office duties? There has been plenty of Ideal Medical Practice success stories, and your story would be even better due to having a PA helping you out too.

 

[deleted87716]

How about having an Ideal Medical Practice where the PA has 10 patients a day, thus paying for their salary and a little more, while also helping you with office duties? There has been plenty of Ideal Medical Practice success stories, and your story would be even better due to having a PA helping you out too.

The concepts behind Ideal Medical Practices and the use of "physician extenders" are diametrically opposed.

 

[lowbudget]

I have no interest in supervising mid-levels. If I wanted to do that, I would've gone into anesthesiology. 😉

I'd rather supervise residents & medical students than mid-levels.

 

[Consigliere]

I have no interest in supervising mid-levels. If I wanted to do that, I would've gone into anesthesiology. 😉

You also have no interest in making $500k per year either. 😉

 

[deleted87716]

You also have no interest in making $500k per year either. 😉

For me to supervise a bunch of mid-levels, I'd need at least $1M. 😉

 

[Consigliere]

For me to supervise a bunch of mid-levels, I'd need at least $1M. 😉

Sure you would, Kenny.😉

 

[deleted87716]

Sure you would, Kenny.😉

Who's "Kenny?"

I noticed you're an anesthesiologist. By reinventing yourselves as "supervisors", you guys really let the genie out of the bottle in your own field. I've seen the discussions in the gas forum about CRNAs. It's not pretty. And now you're here trying to convince us that we should do the same thing?

A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others.

 

[Consigliere]

A smart man learns from his mistakes. A wise man learns from the mistakes of others.

And an even wiser man let's others do his work while he rakes in mountains of cash. Peace!

 

[deleted87716]

And an even wiser man let's others do his work while he rakes in mountains of cash. Peace!

Enjoy it while it lasts. Because it never does.

 

[Consigliere]

Enjoy it while it lasts. Because it never does.

Well, I am fortunate enough to be able to quit at any time and live comfortably. No worries 🙂