[NPInfo] On PAs-Today's FATSECRET.COM

[David Mittman]

Glennm's Journal, 12 February 2008





I saw a physician's assistant at the Veteran's Administration  
Hospital yesterday. He was better than an MD as he was more  
conscientious and more concerned about my high cholesterol than any  
of my doctors I've had the past ten years - I've had sky high  
cholesterol for ages and my other doctors did nothing about it, nor  
even mentioned I lose weight when I was literally on the obese  
borderline for my height some 55 pounds plus ago. Sometimes those  
with P.A. degrees seem more knowledgeable than actual MDs - I don't  
mean to criticize doctors but many that do primary care have been in  
school so long learning other stuff and they don't have a specialty  
necessarily while a physician's assistant's specialty is to be in a  
clinic doing primary care work only and they're trained especially  
for that. Just some thoughts I thought you'd all like to know about  
-- have a great day everyone!!!! :)



Comments
i have to agree with you on the physician's assistant..when i need to  
go see a doctor, the one i go to is not yet a doctor, but in my  
opinion is qualified to be one..he cares, will go out of his way to  
figure out what he can do to help you..just seems to care more then  
someone thts got a doctors degree and has forgotten why hes studied  
so long to get ther...just my opinion...
12 Feb 08 by member: loosinisfun
P.S. Many physician's assistants go on to be doctors eventually with  
more training of course. But it is a specialty of its own and a  
growing career field where only the best candidates get into the very  
few schools around the country that train in this field. One doesn't  
necessarily become a physician's assistant and go on to become a  
medical doctor. The medical doctor before last that I had was very  
brilliant I have to admit but why he didn't bring up treating my sky  
high cholesterol, who knows? Thankfully I've found a medical  
professional who knows it needs to be treated and if losing more  
weight for me by May doesn't lower it and added exercise too, I  
definitely will go on cholesterol lowering medication for its long- 
term health benefits. Remember everyone if you're dieting on Atkins  
get checked out or on any diet and be sure to take a Multivitamin as  
we all can't get our proper intake of food eating lower levels of  
food - especially the skimpy meals I've been eating for months as  
Atkins has taken my hunger away!! :)
12 Feb 08 by member: GlennM
Let's hear it for P.A.'s!! I love my rheumatologist, but I do love  
his physician's assistant just as much (they're both attorneys,  
too!!). Anyway, so very well informed and caring and really on top of  
what's new in their speciality areas. I usually have to allow about  
an hour for an appointment because we get so involved in  
conversation, albeit usually medically related.
12 Feb 08 by member: doctorpatg
I think good practitioners come with all different titles. I have a  
very good NP, for instance, that I trust more for certain things and  
she is easy to talk to. Sometimes it just takes patience to find the  
right MD. I haven't found one yet.
12 Feb 08 by member: sararay
I dont care as much about bedside manner as much as I do about  
competence and getting the job done. Ive met a few docs I wanted to  
walk out on..they were nice..but I had to direct the visit..including  
which labs to order!
12 Feb 08 by member: Shannon_21