Thread: PAs are trying to replace primary doctors

For those who think that PAs are not trying to replace primary doctors readthe following. it is an excerpt from a internet response.the assertion that the care from a PA is better is not true.1) they see less complicated cases2) they have an MD next to them to review the complicated cases.3) I have worked with PAs/NPs and they should not be working independently.To the Editor,To fully address the physician shortage, we must redesign our approach to care.[1] A model that we should evaluate is utilizing midlevel providers for primary care. Many studies have shown care quality as good or better than similar primary care doctors. Let us use the more extensive knowledge and training of physicians for specialty care. Most are going there anyway because lifestyle and financial pressures have squeezed them out of primary care. There are over 25,000 midlevels graduating each year, and can rapidly meet the needs of our aging population.Patrick Watterson PA-CInternal Medicine/Sports Medicine/Occupational MedicineVice President of Finance and Information SystemsBethany Medicalpatrickw@bethanymedicalcenter.com Untitled Document ReferenceRockey PH. Fixing the US physician shortage requires many more slots for resident physicians in training. MedGenMed. 2006;8:52. Available at: Log In Problems Accessed May 22, 2006.

Originally Posted by UHSADOC

Agreed, NP/PA schools typical moto is "We try to condense 4 years of medical school into 2 years."

I disagree, most NP schools are 2.5 to 3 years long and now with the DNP are 4 years in length. The difference is that they mingle a lot of theory and Florence Nightingale crap in the curriculum and not enough pathology, histology, pharm, etc. So quantity of time is not as important as the quality or focus.

"PA/NP trying to replace MD's"

This is another fallacy! MD's are a dime a dozen in this country. The problem is that many are not licensed and why are they not licensed? Because there are simply not enough residencies available.

So this leads to PA/NP's filling the vacuum created by not training MD's with a residency. It irritates the hell out of me that there are so many MD's that can't even be used as Physician Assistants. Why can't the powers that be permit a ECFMG certified Physician to be utilized as a PA?? Its beyond reason!!

I guess why I am so disgusted with the system is because I have lots of FMG and IMG friends who have $150 k + in student loans and no way to pay it back.

I have 2 friends who were PAs and decided to go med school. They were on the top of their classes, and both scored 240+ on STEP 1.

I agree that there should be a formal program to "convert" IMGs to at least PAs.
Perhaps a one year of clinical program, and allow them to challenge the PA boards. This is how it used to be....nothing to do with talent, more to-do with $$$ and tuition...

Originally Posted by t-rex

I have 2 friends who were PAs and decided to go med school. They were on the top of their classes, and both scored 240+ on STEP 1.