Physicians Assistants. What are your experience with them?

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 01:20:20 -0400

My experience with them is that they strive to listen and do a good job especially with the more elderly patients. Perhaps even better than some doctors. What do you think?

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 30 at 2014 1:23 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 01:23:57 -0400

Nurse Practitioners tend to be better. PA's have very limited in scope of practice.

Where doctors may be very limited in time allowed, NP's & PA's have more time.

Response by TSgt Scott C. Brammer made Apr 30 at 2014 1:37 AM

TSgt Scott C. Brammer — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 01:37:32 -0400

They are just fine for primary care/family practice "stuff" which is what most medical care is. Anything more complicated gets referred to a MD/DO it's a good system that works. PA's have enough training and are supervised by physicians so the patient is not in any danger.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 30 at 2014 1:44 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 01:44:23 -0400

The only PA I ever had that knew the difference between their ass and a whole in the ground was a 18D turned officer and PA.

The rest really were horrible and could have given a crap less!

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Apr 30 at 2014 1:50 AM

SSG Trevor S. — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 01:50:19 -0400

A physician's assistant listened when doctors brushed off my hip problem for three years. I for one think PA's do excellent work. Overall I would say the quality of active duty health care has improved about 150% since my first year in the Army. Dr 's, PA's, medics and nurses overall.

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Apr 30 at 2014 5:25 AM

MSG Wade Huffman — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 05:25:00 -0400

I've not had a negative experience with any PAs,and feel PAs and NPs are a great asset considering the shortage of doctors in many areas (which I fear may soon become worse).

Response by SSgt James Stanley made Apr 30 at 2014 1:15 PM

SSgt James Stanley — Wed, 30 Apr 2014 13:15:52 -0400

Usually in my appointments with the Nephrologist I see a PA. She is very knowledgeable, caring, and efficient. I can ask her about medications other doctors prescribe and she can tell me any adverse reactions they may cause.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made May 4 at 2014 4:31 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 04 May 2014 16:31:57 -0400

We had this Doc here in Okinawa a few years back, that no matter what ailment you came to see him with, if you were a smoker, he said smoking caused your problem!

SM: Doc, my leg fell off!!!
DOC: Do you smoke?
SM: Yeah....
DOC: Well, that's why! Get back to work!

Response by SPC David S. made Oct 13 at 2014 5:04 PM

SPC David S. — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 17:04:20 -0400

Only one visit to a military hospital when I had my knee scoped at the USAFA but no PA's in service. However on the civilian side I have experienced two. One who stitched me up post surgery to fix a ruptured pec and the other for a neck issue (and sports are supposed to be good for you). To me it was as if they were a full blown doctor. I would't have known if they would't have introduced themselves as such.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2014 5:15 PM

Col Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 17:15:07 -0400

My provider is a Physicians Assistant and he is the best primary practice military provider I have ever had. He puts a lot of family practice physicians to shame. I also worked for a PA when I came in to the Air Force, he was a blast to work with. I think the main reason most military PAs are so good at what they do is because most of them were prior enlisted. Again, another compliment to the enlisted ranks!

Response by CMDCM Gene Treants made Oct 13 at 2014 6:15 PM

CMDCM Gene Treants — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 18:15:07 -0400

I had great experiences with IDC Hospital Corpsmen in the Navy before there were many PAs. Once PAs began to appear they were highly professional and many, if not most were ex-IDCs who had gotten additional training. My experiences with PAs has been positive and very good in the military.

Since I retired I have found the PAs in the VA system to be much better at listening and responding to my needs. Many of the doctors, not all, need to be retired. In my civilian doctors practices the PAs seem to be on par with many of the NPs and MDs.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Oct 13 at 2014 6:30 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 18:30:24 -0400

I would take a PA over an MD/DO any day at the MDG. My first experience with a PA was Capt Keisow at McGuire. He was both mine and my wife's PCM. When my wife almost died, he went and visited her at the civilian hospital everyday AFTER his duty ended, worked with my Commander to see that I was placed on con-leave to take care of my wife and 3,1, and newborn. After my wife was finally released several months later, worked with me to get her moved to the premier hospital for her issue 3 states away.

Not every PA since that time has be that AMAZING, but all have truly cared about my and my family's health, which is more then I can say about the MD/DO's I have dealt with.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Oct 13 at 2014 6:32 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 18:32:09 -0400

dup post....RP is acting funny again

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2014 6:34 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 18:34:35 -0400

Everyone has their place. As a HM I have seen my share of excellent providers and not so good providers. As a whole I have never had an issue in either the civilian world or in the military with a PA or NP. Most PA's (not all) that I have known were mustangs, and I think that can help also.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Oct 13 at 2014 8:55 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 20:55:29 -0400

My physician's office currently has Nurse Practitioners and they are awesome. I have been treated by PAs in the past and have never had a bad experience with them either.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 14 at 2014 4:46 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 16:46:36 -0400

Years ago I had a very bad experience with a physician's assistant: he treated me in a way that made things worse, and when I got to see a doctor and told him what had happened, he tactfully told me - trying not to "attack" the PA - that the treatment I received was out of line, wrong, should never have been done.

I now see a nurse practitioner, an active duty LTC, and she is one of the best "doctors" I have ever had. I can think of one other doctor who took as much time and cared as much. Sometimes these caring doctors (and nurse practitioners) run behind, but I'm willing to wait because I know they will take the time to listen to me, too, and to care.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Oct 14 at 2014 6:30 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 18:30:21 -0400

The only PA I deal with Reguarly with is my Dentist but he is a saint.

Response by MAJ Jim Woods made Oct 15 at 2014 10:53 AM

MAJ Jim Woods — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 10:53:59 -0400

I have 2 that I see. Both are great. They seem more up to date than the MD's. They are also more immediate treatment oriented than "Let's try this and see if it works".

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2014 11:18 AM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 11:18:37 -0400

I find them to be more responsive and willing to hear you out when many doctors are in and out of your room in mere seconds it seems. I think they are top notch!

Response by PO3 Shaun Taylor made Oct 15 at 2014 11:33 AM

PO3 Shaun Taylor — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 11:33:46 -0400

My experiences with PAs have been far more positive than with NPs as co-workers and as health care providers.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 15 at 2014 1:49 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 13:49:02 -0400

My Primary Care is a NP and I'm very happy with the care I receive. Prior to that my PC was a PA. I prefer to see a NP or PA to a physician because they take more time.

Response by TSgt Heather (Hartin) Nottingham made Oct 15 at 2014 4:50 PM

TSgt Heather (Hartin) Nottingham — Wed, 15 Oct 2014 16:50:13 -0400

My PCM for the last 4 years has been a physician assistant. He's been great and wouldn't have changed it. He's always done his best to help me or give me the referrals that I needed. He listened to me and has helped me through some struggles that I had. And he was a cheerleader when I needed it.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2014 9:21 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 21:21:23 -0400

I've got a different take on it...and it's all tactical. There's a lot of talk about hospitals and the VA on this thread, but where a PA really makes a difference is in the tactical Battalion. I have had a string of great PA's in the Squadron Aid Station. They are the first line provider to the majority of the fighting force. Yes, you have your combat medic, but where does that medic get his authorization to do anything? From teh Battalion PA. This is where these guys cut their teeth. Many may want to end up in a hospital somewhere, but that's not where they start. I have seen PA's save lives when there's blood on the floor. You never know where your PROFIS doc is going to come from. You could very well end up with an intnernal medicine doc. If you've got a case of Sadam's Revenge, he's great, but if you have an arterial artery spraying all over the floor, the PA is the one that is going to be there for you. I love our PA's. They make a difference every day and they are there when the metal hits the meat.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2015 11:09 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 11:09:26 -0400

PAs in the military or in general?

PAs in the military - give out Tylenol like a beast...best Tylenol dispensers ever.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2015 12:02 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 12:02:04 -0400

The Physician Assistant is a product of necessity. To meet the crushing demand for MDs in the Post WWII years, an innovative Medical Professor at Duke University recruited four former Navy Corpsmen with extensive combat experience to participate in a new test program he had created to get qualified practitioners into the field more expediently to mitigate the impacts of the shortage until medical schools could catch up with the demand. Long story short, the Physician Assistant concept was a hit; particularly to the Navy and Air Force, who adopted and internalized the occupation immediately. The Army followed suit later in the 1950s.

From day one, the PA has worked flawlessly as designed - a force and combat multiplier that provides the Medical Corps of all Service Branches with greater flexibility and efficiency in providing aid and care to their respective forces.

Today, the Interservice Physician Assistant Program is considered one of the premier programs in the nation; many of the top civilian PA programs have borrowed elements of the IPAP curriculum when developing their own.

If you are a Veteran and contemplating a return to Active Duty, especially is you intend to expend your Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits, going PA might be an option worth looking into. My civilian wife, at the age of 33 upon the completion of her program at UW-Madison was heavily recruited by the Navy, Army, and Air Force, tempted with lucrative signing bonuses, and the Air Force even offered a direct commission to O-3.

History

A brief history of AAPA and the PA profession.

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Jul 14 at 2015 10:14 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Tue, 14 Jul 2015 22:14:10 -0400

PAs do a great job but they will never replace physicians. They are great for minor things.