General Discussion

Frustratedlady

(16,254 posts)

74. I have found that PAs often take the time to actually listen to the patient.

Sun Sep 21, 2014, 02:16 PM

Sep 2014

My cardiologist has a PA who is very attentive, whereas the dr. limits his time to 15 minutes or less. Communication is a huge part of an appointment and a patient is not always able to condense it down enough to fit into 5-10 minutes. Misinterpretations can cause some serious problems, so I'd much rather talk with a PA and let them pass on any critical symptoms to the dr.

I just came out of the University hospital of our state and could not believe how many times communication was a factor. Even after I was released, I could not make contact with the doctor to point out/remedy two mistakes in their prescriptions. I finally had to "dose" myself in the manner previously used before my hospitalization. What if I had been elderly and not alert to my medical history? I would have ended up taking 4 times the dose on one med. Scary.

I have dealt with 3 PAs and found them to be more analytic than their bosses.

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Read This: After Surgery, Surprise $117,000 Medical Bill From Doctor He Didn�t Know [View all] cali Sep 2014 OP

Just one more reason why US healthcare is the most expensive in the world! B Calm Sep 2014 #1

All the ridiculous greed and not the best! n/t RKP5637 Sep 2014 #35

should be illegal JI7 Sep 2014 #2

That's some baaaad "insurance." WinkyDink Sep 2014 #3

I would think bad freeloading doctor. . B Calm Sep 2014 #4

actually, if you read the piece, BC actually paid up for the entire sham bill cali Sep 2014 #5

Yeah ... They are suing the doctors that engage in these "drive-by doctoring" ... 1StrongBlackMan Sep 2014 #25

This is a case where insurers actually have been battling for the consumers pnwmom Sep 2014 #65

I would tell.. sendero Sep 2014 #6

there's an equally- if not even more- outrageous story at the link. cali Sep 2014 #7

At the link you learn the assistant surgeon was out of network. Scary story, B Calm Sep 2014 #8

you are welcome. I find it frightening too- and infuriating. cali Sep 2014 #12

Or two years. To me $117,000 is a shitload of moola. JEB Sep 2014 #62

This happened to my wife Uben Sep 2014 #9

PA's can bill Sgent Sep 2014 #10

They were quick to drop the charge... Uben Sep 2014 #18

PA's are not 'studying to be doctors'. Aristus Sep 2014 #46

But you aren't doctors, and you aren't surgeons. Otherwise, you'd have the titles. nt MADem Sep 2014 #51

Yes. The title is 'Surgical PA.' Aristus Sep 2014 #54

They are not paid as MD/DOs. In fact, Medicare pays PAs less than 15% of a physician's Allowable Hoyt Sep 2014 #58

Thank you for that. Aristus Sep 2014 #59

I have found that PAs often take the time to actually listen to the patient. Frustratedlady Sep 2014 #74

While I'm rarely allotted more than 15 minutes per patient, I do take as much time as possible Aristus Sep 2014 #97

I agree with you completely. It is outright theft and nothing but. cali Sep 2014 #11

It is theft and fraud. joshcryer Sep 2014 #31

An orthopaedic surgeon operated on his NECK ?? pangaia Sep 2014 #13

Yes. An orthopedic surgeon operated on his NECK. Aristus Sep 2014 #47

A neurosurgeon. pangaia Sep 2014 #82

That's why the neurologist was involved MannyGoldstein Sep 2014 #56

That was my first thought, too. WillowTree Sep 2014 #64

i researched this when i was facing back surgery, and there is some overlap between orthopaedists dionysus Sep 2014 #96

We got 6 bills for our colonoscopy Doctor_J Sep 2014 #14

Our provider got wise to that racket. PeoViejo Sep 2014 #15

part of the problem is onethatcares Sep 2014 #16

And yet... Orrex Sep 2014 #22

I'm so sorry that you're having to deal with it mahina Sep 2014 #43

We were told that getting mandatory, for profit insurance SOLVED the problem. He's probably lying. Romulox Sep 2014 #17

When were you told that the ACA would end the practice ... 1StrongBlackMan Sep 2014 #30

Nonsense. We were told that the lack of mandatory, for-profit insurance WAS the problem. Romulox Sep 2014 #33

Nonsense is right! ... 1StrongBlackMan Sep 2014 #36

Thanks for the laugh. I forgot the "We need to see his tax return" from the Heritage Care Fan Club Doctor_J Sep 2014 #76

cali Diclotican Sep 2014 #19

I wish you the best of luck with your upcoming surgery, Diclotican cali Sep 2014 #21

cali Diclotican Sep 2014 #42

Best wishes with your surgery, Diclotican and... steve2470 Sep 2014 #90

steve2470 Diclotican Sep 2014 #92

Two words - 'single payer'. marble falls Sep 2014 #20

Freeloading doctors will still be charging us. B Calm Sep 2014 #98

IMO, they are committing fraud and should not only not get paid Crunchy Frog Sep 2014 #23

It makes me wonder if there is some fine print in those release forms he signed justiceischeap Sep 2014 #28

read the whole article. this is a widespread practice- and fine print or not, it's theft. cali Sep 2014 #32

I've had this happen to me twice. lisby Sep 2014 #24

Check you credit report yeoman6987 Sep 2014 #40

"Invisible Providers" Ruby the Liberal Sep 2014 #26

you must not have gotten the memo Doctor_J Sep 2014 #39

You've yet to explain how you get Lieberman to vote for more. jeff47 Sep 2014 #94

Holy Damn! TM99 Sep 2014 #53

That would be it Ruby the Liberal Sep 2014 #57

I never had a bill riverbendviewgal Sep 2014 #27

actually Obamacare is probably going to turn out to be worse than nothing Doctor_J Sep 2014 #38

Odd that the state of Vermont thinks otherwise nt karynnj Sep 2014 #41

Actually, it moved us closer. It was almost 20 years after Hillary Care was shot down, for anyone Hoyt Sep 2014 #61

Mandating that every man, woman, and child buy private insurance is NOT moving us closer Doctor_J Sep 2014 #63

Ask him and see what he says. My friend's 3 year old daughter says Obamacare rocks when she's sick. Hoyt Sep 2014 #69

Wait, did you reply to the wrong post? Doctor_J Sep 2014 #72

But that wasn't going to happen with the Republicans in Congress, and 3 year olds know it. Hoyt Sep 2014 #73

Now that IS a tricky one for a 5-year-old. Dem president, Dem senate, Dem house, Doctor_J Sep 2014 #77

Tell that to Vermont, where they are going ahead with single-payer pnwmom Sep 2014 #66

Canada did not get single payer all at one time, MoonchildCA Sep 2014 #67

They also never required for-profit insurance by law Doctor_J Sep 2014 #68

Get a non-profit plan. Hoyt Sep 2014 #70

Yes. It did. MoonchildCA Sep 2014 #71

It wouldn't happen without the ACA Sgent Sep 2014 #78

How do you get Lieberman to vote for single-payer? jeff47 Sep 2014 #95

My response to that would be The Wizard Sep 2014 #29

Guys, this is how a private market for healthcare will *always* work. What did you expect??? nt Romulox Sep 2014 #34

things will be better now that everyone has to buy private insurance Doctor_J Sep 2014 #37

It's medical providers like these, Aristus Sep 2014 #44

If we had single payer Ruby the Liberal Sep 2014 #50

Insane. If only we can get a Democratic president & a Democratic congress, this Karmadillo Sep 2014 #45

You know we one more step added to your list. nt Logical Sep 2014 #48

You would think democrats would be campaigning for this to impliment after the next election. Looks B Calm Sep 2014 #49

Er, the Dem WH and Congress are the ones who put this in place Doctor_J Sep 2014 #60

What isn't clear is exactly what is the contracted rate that the insurance company pays. It is still_one Sep 2014 #52

American exceptionalism Doctor_J Sep 2014 #75

No one is "happy" with it, but it's better than what we had by a long shot. Hoyt Sep 2014 #79

Really? The "thanks Obama" Heritage Care threads usually get dozens or hundreds of recs Doctor_J Sep 2014 #81

Bernie Sanders voted for it, the 40 million uninsured are now getting health care they didn't before still_one Sep 2014 #89

Only about 12 million are, and at the cost of a half-trillion dollar per year bribe to Big Insurance Doctor_J Sep 2014 #91

Well as long as people keep electing what they elect, yes still_one Sep 2014 #93

Where did I say I was happy with it? I just stated the way the game is set still_one Sep 2014 #87

Oh what a pile of #%^* we make, MannyGoldstein Sep 2014 #55

That is a perfect definition of our situation. Enthusiast Sep 2014 #86

they should name the blood sucker Liberal_in_LA Sep 2014 #80

This sounds like fraud. alarimer Sep 2014 #83

Did they plate the disc in solid gold? Vinca Sep 2014 #84

Kicked and recommended! Enthusiast Sep 2014 #85

The whole system is defective. bigwillq Sep 2014 #88