Physician Assistant - A Conversation We've All Had

[SellMeLies]

lol great!

[kevlyei]

Tough situation indeed. My personal opinion, as a PA-S, is not even use the word physician OR assistant in our name. The name should be something we can build a reputation around, as hard as that may be in the short term. The draw back is that it doesn't highlight our dependence on a supervising physician but guess what, neither do job titles like 'paramedic' or 'EMT.'

[RoveryTroll]

Ahahahahahaha. This is so funny.

[jessssheheh]

the beginning is kind of akward but after that, its really imformative. thanks for posting

[jj418000]

You can't be an associate physician because you are NOT a physician (MD, or EVEN a DO). Just like an associate lawyer suggests being a REAL lawyer.

It seems like you wouldn't have to explain as much if you went to school for 2 more years, did a 3+ year residency, and were addressed as Dr. X, rather than Mr. X, one of the PAs.

[herpshnerp]

@jj418000 They did not suggest Associate Physician, rather Physician Associate. Yes there is a distinct difference.

[herpshnerp]

@jj418000 Also, there is a reason PAs choose the PA path versus the MD path, it is a different career with a different dynamic. It does not make them less intelligent driven or capable of MDs but the general population seems to have that idea which leads to many of the misunderstandings and lack of respect PAs too often encounter.

[aliandsam1]

This is a stupid vid. Annoying as hell

[becca315]

lol. "my freakin' doctor's helper badge at the freakin' first aid store."

[kburrispa]

I think I would've punched her....lol.

[socal1000]

its seri funny

[kingsandqueens01]

Yale University has the ideal! They dont have a "Physician Assistant" program they have a "Physician Associate" Program :-) they really do need to change the name

[260310hb]

Hahahaha !..ignorance at its best !The guy is tryin to explain bt stil nothn clicks...

[allugottadoislove]

@RandomRawrs. I pray that you are not as ignorant as you sound. I feel sorry for your pts.

[MissSovietBones]

Perhaps Substitute Physician is only another option.

[MissSovietBones]

I think we should compromise. I see the side of the doctors and I see the side of the PAs. Changing the name to Physician Associate will imply a peer status to a physician, which is not the case. However, Physician ASSISTANT downgrades the profession and is too often confused with Physician's Assistant, which people believe to be a trade school type of career where you make 30k handing the doctor the scalpel and rubbing the blood of the patient's wound. I believe ASSISTANT PHYSICIAN will be fair

[LogosTheos]

@MissSovietBones, Assitant Physican sounds better than Physican Associate, cool :)

[datzfast]

if i need a doctor i go to one. doc assisters are for people that dont mind not talking with a doctor.

[datzfast]

she isnt running off baby fat she is jogging off the dozen been and beef buritos. to run off baby fat you take a fat baby and drag him out for a jog.

[TomoexNanami]

they should change the assistant part of the title. =/

[christianmonist]

PAs do get sued., although rarely. They must have their own malpractice. It better be the PA's own responsibility to make sure they are doing things right. That's part of their training . . . getting it right the first time.

[ColoryourworldMakeup]

@RandomRarws

weather PA's make more mistakes or not, it's the doctors responsilibity to make sure the PA is doing everything right. PAs dot get sued doctors do. Which is why doctors make more money ad go to school longer.

[xxhadez187xx]

agrees, change name to Physician Associate



[christianmonist]

PAs have been diagnosing and treating patients since 1966 and done an excellent job at it. The idea that they are more prone to errors is of mythology and not supported at all by research or reality.

[RandomRawrs]

@christianmonist

Then what's the point in having physicans and nurses? If 4 years of a general undergraduate science degree in biochemistry or biology or just chemistry plus 1 year master degree in PA is sufficient to accurately assess and diagnose medical problems compared to a MD and RN which have to complete 4 years of intense medical directed training plus clinical practice then why are we even bothering? Why don't PA's predominate and MDs, NPs and RNs become obsolete?

[RandomRawrs]

@christianmonist

Oh and also, I am an RN student and just researched Physician Assistants on EBSCO, found a BUNCH of peer reviewed literature stating that PAs were more prone to making mistakes and that failure of PAs to accurately diagnose conditions have resulted in numerous lawsuits and disabilities. Don't believe me? Here's a source A PHYSICIAN?S LIABILITY FOR MISTAKES OF A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT. (2000). Journal of Legal Medicine, 21(1), 125-142. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

[RandomRawrs]

Is this really true in USA? That's scary, a PA in Canada could NEVER diagnose a patient. The only two people legally able to diagnose and order tests are Nurse Practitioners and physicians. A PA is an unregulated profession, they shouldn't be given the ability to prescribe and order tests, no offense, but doctors and nurses make enough mistakes alone. We don't need to be putting in further unregulated staff contributing to the idiocracy of health care.

[blacksurvival4ever]

@RandomRawrs In the USA a Physican's Assistant has more CLINICAL HOURS of traning....as a standard....Most NursePractioners have around 500-700 clinical hours of training vs. a Physician Assit. 2,000 plus hours of clinical rotation....and in most cases NP/PA can apply for the same postion.....They are both MID- LEVEL practioners...there is a difference in there training...but they are basically the same. A PA is trained to DIAGNOSE and NURSE is tranined to HEAL.....only the top nurse's become NP

[ksb2050]

@RandomRawrs LOL a PA is higher than a nurse practitioner. They outrank nurse practitioners. Go back to Canada....

[mishsayshi]

lol



[dixiebooks]

Why not Physician Practitioner? Then bring the PP and Nurse Practitioner and Paramedic Practitioner on par with each other so that it is the same thing but from differing routes. Would that work?

[ilazyaaron]

Change the name to "Clinical Physician"!!

[tpunsalan123]

I am a physician and I am impressed with PA's who have lots of experience as a former medic or EMT. In fact, my understanding was that in order to get into PA school you had to have many years of intense, higher-level clinical experience. However, I know of a PA who worked at Red Lobster as a waitress prior to getting her master's. Another one worked as an optometry tech. What gives?

[hillarymed25]

Also, the NP and PA programs are about equal in length (27 months) and both receive a Master's. PA's do clinical rotations in at least 8 different specialties, whereas NP's have to pick their specialty when they apply and then get rotated through that specialty multiple times. NP's know a LOT about 1 area, where PA's are trained to know a as much info. as possible about every area possible. Both are needed and respected, but more PR is definitely needed for the PA profession.

[hillarymed25]

Well I am currently a PA-S and I have had this convo so many times! Someone even thought PA meant "personal assistant"!!! everyone seems to know what a NP is, but nobody has a clue what a PA is, even if their medical practitioner is a PA. With that said, the difference b/w a PA & NP is their training (curriculum). Google it. PA's are trained by other PA's and MD's, while NP's are trained mostly with the nursing model. NP's also have to specialize, like Family Med, Women's Health, and PA's don't.

[hottsteph1623]

LOL I'm going to school to be a PA but I'm sorry, the chick's questions were HILARIOUS!!

[bomberfun1]

The new title should be: Associate Medical Physician

[watcher2987]

Maybe "clinical practitioner", instead? Or "supervised clinician"?

[meggiebri]

that sounds like a great job! sign me up!

[JUARITOSWAY]

PA's may have a little more training, and are supervised so i trust them i tad bit. But Nurse practitioners are straight out dangerous, and now that they are unsupervised there will be a lot more morbidity because of inadequate care. It´s not until nurses get over their "I should have been a doctor, but couldn´t" syndrome that they will find out that seeing patients is something a physician should do, not a nurse with an extra diploma which still makes him/her a nurse.

[stacey94702]

@JUARITOSWAY I'm not sure what Juarito's problem is. I don't know any nurses that want to be doctors. And, unless he's been to NP school he doesn't know what their training is. Furthermore, in all but 8 states NPs are supervised by an MD just like PAs. Perhaps he has had a bad experience with an NP. I've been working in the medical field for 20 years and I have seen poor care both by nurses and doctors. The problem wasn't the training so much as a lack of heart and integrity.

[amiosa35]

A name change is needed for sure...patient communication starts immediately upon introduction and it helps to have a title that makes sense to that patient. If there is confusion about qualifications, a pt may feel some distress when invasive procedures are done..or any other medical care for that matter! I also think that conversations like this (and they are constantly happening) take up valuable time--especially when it is happening btwn PA and pt. Just sayin'..

[mehiael]

They should call it "Medical Therapist" :)

[gunittsolja1]

I'm in PA school and, honestly, I've never had this conversation. Everybody that I've ever encountered seems to know what a PA is. Personally, I don't care what they call me....as long as I get paid and enjoy what I'm doing! :D

[gunnerone]

This is a common thing. If they changed the name slightly it wouldn't be an issue. Sometimes you just want to say I'm a mini-Doctor.

[point177]

Paramedic, applying to PA school when I get back from Afghanistan. Already having conversations like this.

[envirocopy512]

"Assistant" is such a cringeworthy word...they need to change it to something else

[theotherguyuk]

If you wanna be a doctor, go to medical school!

(runs away quickly...)

[thepapasmurf2]

Lol, the male character needed a lot of validation. Maybe to be a Pysician Assistant you need to be self confident enough to be deal with situations like this.

[DVDluvr123]

It would help a lot if the job title was changed!

[dirty30jr]

painful

NPs don't need a MD holding their hands unless they try to put someone on disability seeing MDs won't give up forn fees

[robertr911]

I respect my PAs, but don't understand why the desire for "physician's associate." Other physicians are my associates, not PAs. Maybe a totally other name would be better.

[xzkiskazx]

@robertr911 Sure they are your associates, but im sure physicians don't introduce themselves or have the title of physician associates. With PA's they would have to introduce themselves and say they ARE Physicians associate.

That is the difference.

[ThePurdude]

are people really this stupid?

"i give up" lmao hahaha

[skygirlie12]

Physician Associate. Mount Sinai in NYC is already using the term!!! Woohoo progress!!!

[mrtonya69]

no offense, but before you start calling yourself an "associate physician", some food for thought:

Clinical training hrs

DNP: 700

PA: 2400

MD/DO: >18,000 - this is assuming only a 3 year residency after 4 years of medical school. with residency + fellowship approaching 10 years AFTER medical school for certain specialties, the number may increase substantially.

[delco714]

@mrtonya69 then clearly nurses shouldnt be awarded doctorates. Go ahead and practice medicine and call it nursing just so you dont have to get your asses handed to you by the AMA

[mrtonya69]

@delco714 not sure what your point is...

[grndt]

@mrtonya69 Obviously, this is a bit inappropriate and arrogant. PA and NP professional are entrenched in our healthcare system & aren't going away. Having said that, I think the name change will not be helpful. The goal of our profession is to strengthen the MD/PA team to provide excellent care to our patients and hopefully gain job/personal satisfaction. If you feel a name change is needed to elevate your social standing then put in your time and financial sacrifice and go to Med school.

[murderapolis612]

i wish only doctors would have white coats so patients wouldnt be so confused about peoples roles.

[sullysflying]

Hysterical!!!

[watzgoodinthe711]

the new PA name is:--> Associate Physician.... Thumbs up if you agree

[hilariousbollywood]

@watzgoodinthe711 i agree...i can relate to the guy in this video im sick an tired of explaining what PA's do

[jorgepadilla68]

I've been practicing as a PA for 7 years and it never fails - stupid patients making such comments as: 'are you preparing for medical school?' or 'you're just an assistant'. I agree the 'assistant' needs to be changed.

[PurplePlayer99]

@jorgepadilla68 How long have you been going to school? my school has a great a 4 year program and I'm really interested in this field, some Pa's I know are happy with their job

[sickpainevil]

Awesome video!

[KacsSpock]

Thank you for posting this! I am an MA about to start PA school and I have to explain this everyday. I wish the AAPA would change the name or do better PR to inform people better.

[mikecelone]

Mary is such a bitch!

[ticks4ticks4]

I, too, am just a patient (never have done ANY work in the medical field); however, I understand the difference between an: EMT; LVN; RN; NP (Nurse Practictioner); PA (Physician's Assistant); MD; DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine).

[ELchambelan]

@ticks4ticks4  Physician Assistant. NOT Physician's Assisant.

[ticks4ticks4]

@ELchambelan Thanks for the correction! (Now I really understand the differences! :-)

[1almondjoyce]

so stupid

[0001kd]

This started out dumb, but it got funnier as it went on...I give up

[Newleaf2012]

i thought the name was changed Physician associates...?

[banuchi]

PAs & PA Students......Join the movement for the name change at PhysicianAssociate Com

[johnmaylivesv]

I don't get it. I AM an MA and people think I'm a PA all the time( I correct them instantly FWIW) Where in the Hell are you all working that people don't know what a PA is ?

[JaccChen23]

this dumb girl just have no common sense. Who say PA doesnt need to go to college and attend PA school....

[smoothgirl14]

I want to throw her against a wall everytime i see this !!!

These people drive me CRAZY

[ekkeman]

True!

[pabobfin]

He's not shaving, and looks like a geek. Being a PA I know what a PA is, and this is really not what I worry about day to day as a PA.

[PurplePlayer99]

@pabobfin Hey I know you've replied to this video a while ago but I am really interested in this field and have had great feedback from other PA's I know in the area who are happy with their jobs. Ya mind giving me a few words describing your feelings about the job?

[pabobfin]

@PurplePlayer99 I have practiced medicine as a PA for 27 years, and not one time has a patient been confused by what I do. I love the job. I have worked in 4 states, and never had a patient either ask where I was in my class standings, or what a Physician Assistant is/was. I gave care for the patient, and then they knew what I was and what a PA is.

[johnmaylivesv]

Oh, come on there are no black people in Montana

[KarrotKun1]

@johnmaylivesv Boise is in Idaho...

[johnmaylivesv]

@KarrotKun1 She say's Great Falls dude (as in Montana) anyway there are no black people in Idaho either

[KarrotKun1]

@johnmaylivesv Oh I see!  HMMMM!!! Interesting... Gracias!

[sbestpa]

Looks like we're stuck with the name for the time being. At least in my state, I can actually just practice medicine, incorporate something I just read in the literature inot my practice, etc. The NPs have to have specific written protocols to follow, so if it's not in the protocol they can't do it without consulting with their collaborating (supervising) physician.

[StellaScorp]

is there a video one for occupational therapists?? LOL

[mw457]

Wow! What a jerk. She isn't even trying to understand the scope of his profession. Cool video :)

[shansonpac]

As 30 year PA, this is a conversation that I've had 20 years ago, but never now. With 1 PA for every 10 physicians, the comment in the doctor's lounge is, "Can you find me one?". At the office, "My [insert friend or relative] is a PA or going to PA school!" Same on the street. PA and "physician assistant" have great recognition as we reach critical mass as a profession and more people experience PAs first hand as they access the health care system. Change the name and we start over.

[MsDenimo]

I love it! Firefly, you are right! Why is it that we can say NP and everyone knows what it is, yet we get this conversation continually despite the fact that PA's have been around for over 40 years?

[wrathofthemath]

that was awesome.

[jad3948]

"freakin doctor's helpers badge at the freakin first aid store" LOL XD

[firefly321123]

Having been a PA since 1976, I've been thru this scenario MANY times. It HAS gotten better over the decades but more PR is needed on the great work PA's do. The AAPA seems to have fallen short in promo activities.

There will be many more PA's (and NP's) serving the public in the next 20 years due to the ridiculous cost of health care overall in the US -PA's help to contain those costs while still providing excellent patient care.

I VOTE FOR A NAME CHANGE TO PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATE!

[TheVillainOfTheYear]

I agree, firefly. Physician Associat>physician assistant. Although I always thought Medical Practitioner or Adjunct-Physician worked a little better.

[PurplePlayer99]

@firefly321123 Hey man I really want to be a PA and I've been asking people all over. How have your hours and free time been over the years? All the PA's I know in NY have been happy with their job. I only know four but still lol i am a freshman and I am very interested in this field

[TheAffinity512]

@firefly321123 How can we do that? IT SHOULD BE PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATE!

[parcivale]

@firefly321123 So what is the difference between a Nurse Practitioner and a Physician Assistant?

[stacey94702]

@parcivale PAs and NPs both provide medical care and have a very similar scope of practice, so much so that most job postings advertise for either a PA or NP. Meaning as far as the employer is concerned they are the same. The type of care they provide is varied, but it includes diagnosing and prescribing, which is why MDs find them a threat because that is turf they staked out a long time ago and it is not in their professional interest to have increased competition.

[rmcdaniel423]

@stacey94702 wrote "MDs find them a threat because that is turf they staked out a long time ago and it is not in their professional interest to have increased competition. "

The MDs that think that way are destined for dwindling practices. The smart MDs see that a good PA can double patient flow, but cost less than a partner. If it's done right, total health care system costs less $, MD makes more $, PA has great job, and patients get efficient high quality care. It's a total win-win.

[stacey94702]

@parcivale PAs and NPs both provide medical care and have a very similar scope of practice, so much so that most job postings advertise for either a PA or NP. Meaning as far as the employer is concerned they are the same. The type of care they provide is varied, but it includes diagnosing and prescribing, which is why MDs find them a threat because that is turf they staked out a long time ago and it is not in their professional interest to have increased competition.

[chunkermonkey]

oh my god i wanna slap that lady! hahahha it's a shame that a lot of people are like her..stubborn about their perceptions of what PAs are! If they at least change the name to Physician Associate maybe they'd get more respect

[MagicalEnigma13]

This is so awesome, nice job...

[ReverbAndBeer]

Wrong about the NP, though. He should have said, "Nurse Practitioners are trained at schools of NURSING, and practice advanced practice NURSING. Physician assistants are trained at schools of MEDICINE, and practice MEDICINE under the supervision of a physician."

And, "Physician assistants have all the responsibility, 1/3 of the pay, and none of the respect" of the docs.

Or - "We do everything the docs don't want to do".

[michsand1987]

@ReverbAndBeer; As for the 1/3 the pay, I know many doctors that have told me how THEY wish they would have become PAs. Due to the debt M.D.s acquire going through years of med school and all the other malpractice costs, etc. that factor in to being an M.D., they end up making a net profit about the same as that of a PA. And as for doctors not respecting PAs, I wouldn't know about that quite yet since I am still in PA school. I'm sure it depends on the doctors you work with.

[Iain1028]

Change the lame name "Assistant' and this stupid conversation would never even take place.

[BulldogsRule12]

@Iain1028

That would be lying.

[leadingbyxample]

Hilarious! I can't imagine how frustrating this is. Of course, words do not teach. One must have their own experience with a PA in order to know how knowledgeable they are.