You might decide to become a physician assistant instead of a physician because you can get into the occupation faster and with less expense and achieve a better work-life balance without missing out on the job satisfaction of helping patients. Yes, take me to the quiz Why PA? PAs have flexible careers. sourcing guidelines and only link to trustworthy media sites, medically-reviewed peer journals, Many require or prefer prior experience in healthcare, and a variety of roles qualify for this experience. In practice, PAs – once trained and possessing some experience – practice pretty much independently. Often, patients may be seen by an APC for follow-up care after surgery or some other procedure or test. CareDash works best with third party blocking plugins disabled. issues with our content, please email As I spent many hours studying for chemistry and agonizing over my future, I looked at every option I could think of. Because your parents are doctors: If you're doing this to earn someone else's respect or love, this will never work. I am super excited to become a PA… Now time to go work on my application again so I will hopefully be accepted! Those pursuing highly specialized areas of medicine may need to complete a fellowship as well. Jan 15, 2012. please disable any third party blocking plugins and try again. PubMed: Patient satisfaction with physician assistants (PAs) in an ED fast track. On that note, here is a list of terrible reasons to become a doctor: To make money: You will, but there are way easier and more profitable ways. You work three 12 hr shifts a week. If you'd like to highlight your profile at the top of relevant searches, While your first inclination may be to go with the professional with the most … 0 Likes. To help ensure accurate, high-quality content, we require that our writers follow specific Making rounds in hospitals and assisted living centers. Depending on the study, Doctors rank #1 to #6 in best paying jobs in the the US. Doctor and PA salaries vary widely depending on the state as well as the healthcare setting. If you haven’t already received medical care from a physician assistant, chances are that someday you will. Medicine is … For instance, when the Affordable Care Act (ACA) went into effect in 2014, the number of insured Americans skyrocketed, and with more Americans able to access medical care, wait times to get in to see a doctor have also increased — they’re up 30% over pre-ACA levels. Their responses revealed what makes their daily work worth the effort. One study found that it takes, on average, 24 days before a new patient can get in to see a doctor. Many if not most people who go to medical school are making a huge mistake—one they won’t realize … Technically when you're a PA you're always under MD supervision, while as an NP you're not. Not necessarily, experts say. And the sooner you get your application in, the better. directories, and profiles on CareDash, please visit our Advertising Solutions to learn more. I am one of the most indecisive people in the world to begin with, but I mean this is the career that I’m choosing for the rest of my life! That derm PA is making bank and operating more or less on his/her own (sure, they're under the supervision/authority of a doctor, but what that means is that the doctor reviews a few of the cases or gets called into the room sometimes, but otherwise you don't see much of a difference). The same holds true with primary care, where the APC, in collaboration with the physician, will often be the one to provide comprehensive, personalized care to … Having the full experience. They are supervised by a physician, which USUALLY means that doctor is available if the PA wants to run something by them, and that that doctor cosigns at least 5% of the PAs charts. Aspiring PAs are required to have about six years of education to obtain their medical license. In the exam room of the future — which may be your living room — the doctor may ask about your feelings or know how to code, a physician assistant may be … Although the doctor will continue to supervise the patient’s overall care, the APC often will provide the face-to-face monitoring or treatment. PA … I never wanted to feel like I was “settling” by becoming a PA. Then, on the other hand, I didn’t want to feel trapped during med school… or during residency or just while just starting to work. When you see a physician assistant, you’ll often find that they are less rushed and more willing to spend time answering your questions and discussing your concerns. But today, I want to talk about why I became a PA in the first place over becoming a doctor. In California, nurse practitioners are licensed by the Nursing Board and MDs are … If you call a doctor because you’re sick or in immediate need of medical treatment, it simply isn't feasible to wait 20-plus days to be seen. 😛 I have been so back and forth about PA school vs. Med school up to this winter honestly. See a provider online now! It was a dual enrollment class and my friend said it was an easy A for college. At … In other cases, though, you may be given a choice to see a doctor or a physician assistant. I was well aware of the PA profession, but I had doubts about whether that was the right career path for me, and to be quite honest, I really didn’t even know myself yet. If you’ve ever needed medical care of any kind, you probably agree that the U.S. healthcare system has plenty of room for improvement. Make sure you’re as knowledgeable as possible and that you’re … Although physician assistants aren’t qualified as doctors, there are a lot of benefits to choosing a PA path over that of an MD or a DO. At the end of the day, being a doctor is a job. You probably have your doctor on speed dial. Plus, Ryan wants to be a doctor and I support him 100% (I keep annoying him to try to get him to study right now actually… he’s playing video games instead :P) I just feel like becoming a physician assistant is the best choice for what I want out of life. These are just a few reasons why I chose to pursue a career as a PA!---Subscribe for more videos!Smile & Be Positive!Instagram: @freshprinceofhealthcare To save lives in unexpected emergencies SPONSORED practice Only 12% reported they would be willing to wait longer to see an emergency physician than a physician assistant. (This study factored in the time and money that it takes for PA school vs. med school.) More and more, PAs are becoming familiar … Every article is edited and fact-checked by our team of skilled Ninety-five percent of respondents reported they were “very satisfied” with the care they received. Unfortunately, an angel never came down and told me which career to choose. These long wait times are one of the reasons why physician assistants are so essential to the U.S. healthcare model. who are committed to the top publishing industry standards. editorial staff, You leave the hospital and you leave your job at the hospital. It all comes down to earning your patient’s trust and respect by being a good provider no matter what your role is. Because we are trained in general medicine, much of learning how to be a specialty PA is done on the job and you are trained by the physicians and other APP’s you work with. care professionals. As an NP/PA, your … So while I haven’t been writing on the blog, I’ve been writing my personal statement. Atlantis, Bahamas- My Home Away From Home, 8 Morning Sickness Remedies For Pregnancy That Really Work. But it depends on why you’re seeing a healthcare professional. And because a doctor oversees the physician assistant, you’ll have the benefit of two highly trained medical professionals evaluating your care. That fast track is part of why she decided to pursue a career as a PA. Physicians have a slightly longer medical education timeline. It's extremely difficult for an MD to run a solo practice nowadays, because overhead (especially with EMR) just keeps growing while reimbursements shrink. She went to college and by 22 she was able to make money. directories, and profiles on CareDash, please visit our, Merritt Hawkins: Survey of Physician Appointment Wait Times, Consumer Reports: When a nurse is as good as a doctor. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog to be the first to know when there are new blog posts & other special announcements! You’ll typically be able to secure an appointment with a physician assistant much sooner than with a doctor. About 72 percent of patients would rather see an MD than a PA, according to a recent national survey. CASPA (The Central Application Service for Physician Assistants) opens their application cycle April 25th. Tweet us questions and comments Boston had the highest average wait time of any city surveyed: an astounding 52 days to get in to see a doctor! by professional writers, and whenever possible, medically reviewed by credentialed health … I would also recommend that she leave the PA part out as he didn’t even ask about PA-ship. And I’m not writing this to bash on physicians AT ALL. Prev; 1; 2; Next ; I'm a pre-somethinghealthrelated student (I am still torn between nursing and medicine), and I want to know: Why did you choose nursing (more specifically advance-practice nursing) instead of one of its alternatives? In some cases — you have a life-threatening injury or illness, or you’re in active labor after a complicated pregnancy — seeing a doctor is the safest course of action. Would love to forever get updated outstanding blog! @caredash. If it weren’t for physicians, the physician assistant profession wouldn’t exist! Physician assistants and doctors also both take many of the same classes and focus on the same thing: how to detect and treat diseases, illnesses, and injuries. From urgent medical issues to ongoing care, get high-quality care from a top doctor online. Work/life balance. Employment for medical doctors is projected to grow 14% in the next 10 years, which is twice as fast as the average for all occupations. Thanks for joining the CareDash community! We gathered stories from doctors across the United States about what drove them to pursue their calling in medicine. What You Need to Know About COVID-19 Coronavirus, Why You Need to Use Telehealth During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Lateral mobility: Yes, this is often the first point people make in regard to PA’s. They prioritize quantity over quality. While the core training of physician assistants and doctors is very similar, to become a doctor, a medical school graduate must go on to complete an internship. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Becoming a physician assistant allows someone to provide health care without the lengthy and strenuous education that is mandatory for a doctor. I created this space as a place of positivity, where I’m able to share my passion for finding goodness and adventure in life each and every day. Why you should become a nurse or physicians assistant instead of a doctor: the underrated perils of medical school. But should you be worried about seeing an MD instead of a PA or NP? October 20, 2012 By Jake Seliger in Academia, Culture, Essays, status Tags: doctors, med school, medical school, nurses, nursing, physicians, residency 158 Comments. The biggest difference between the two is the amount of time spent on training. academic institutions, and websites for well-known hospitals and other reputable medical facilities. My wife is a nurse. Accordingly, a more appropriate title would be “Why he should be a nurse practitioner (and NOT a doctor)” or even leave that last part out to avoid inviting division. czyja, MSN, RN. Our articles are written The limitations on what physician assistants can and can’t do vary from state to state. So, I don’t see the reason to spend 6+ more years in training when there isn’t actually a financial benefit for … Savanna thinks this saying is true and that she has actually run into this situation a couple of times. In some cases — you have a life-threatening injury or illness, or you’re in active labor after a complicated pregnancy — seeing a doctor is the safest course of action. The reason you don't see many PA or NP run practices is that it's often not worth it from a financial standpoint. Why NP instead of MD, DO, or PA? That PA then talked about how he was still able to spend time with his young children and pregnant wife when he got home from work, instead of reading a backlog of medical charts. According to these MDs, there are actually many reasons to be a doctor. Weekly CareDash newsletters to stay informed with the latest health topics. I’ve been slacking a bit at publishing blog posts lately because I have been preparing for applying to PA school! Want to see a doctor or fill your prescription? Why See a Physician Assistant Instead of a Doctor? Physician assistants are medical generalists qualified and legally empowered to see patients needing primary medical care. If you’re still not convinced that you’ll receive quality care from a physician assistant, consider the results of one study surveying more than 100 patients seen by a physician assistant in a busy emergency department. Your email address will not be published. Most PAs or NPs are perfectly able to treat minor conditions. They’re booked solid and are under pressure to provide the best patient care — in the least amount of time — so they can fit in all of the patients they’re scheduled to see in a day. I see ups and downs to both careers. I figured that in undergrad, the pre-reqs for PA school and medical school are super similar, so I would just begin my undergraduate courses…hoping one day my future career would dawn on me. Trying to prepare for everything you might be asked will deprive your responses of the depth that interviewers are looking for. Want to see a doctor now or fill your prescription? If a patient sees a bad doctor, they'll find another doctor. Do not ever put someone down because of where they stand in society. Most doctors have staggering patient caseloads. PA programs are primarily master's degree level (95.4%), but some programs have not yet made the shift (all accredited PA programs are obligated to be master's level by 2020). Simply put, the main difference between a physician assistant and a doctor is the length and specialization of their medical training. You want to focus your answer on the YOU part of why YOU want to be a doctor and why YOU would be an excellent doctor. Most doctor hopefuls also spend anywhere from three to seven years completing a residency in a particular field of medicine (such as dermatology, cardiology, pediatrics, or emergency medicine). There are some key differences between a physician assistant and a doctor, including: Education. When he wanted to start a system-based program, it requires a physician champion to get it going and spearhead it. The average doctor’s salary can range from about $200,000 to $300,000 a year. … Why PA School Interview Question Lists Cause Problems . If you notice any inaccurate or outdated material on our site or notice any other potential At CareDash, our goal is to provide factually accurate content. Throughout most of my college career, I was conflicted about whether I wanted to go to PA school or medical school. Click To Tweet. They also are licensed differently. Under supervision, they treat patients in various specialties (family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, etc.) After medical school, doctors typically need to complete three to seven years of  postgraduate residency training. In other cases, though, you may be given a choice to see a doctor or a physician assistant. If you'd like to highlight your profile at the top of relevant searches, This is just a PSA to remind people to be grounded and that all people have the same value. If you are experiencing difficulty signing up or using the site, Why not search the CareDash database for a local physician assistant to add to your contact list, too? Physician assistants are also not allowed to work independently – they must work under the supervision of a medical doctor. MDs share why they became doctors. Doctors must be board-certified at the national level and licensed by the state in which they plan to practice. Differences between a PA and a doctor. Kellye Neuweiler is a professional writer and editor with a journalism degree and 20 years of diverse journalistic experience. The average program length of an NP program is 15-24 months, while PA programs average 27 months. Another fantastic benefit of the PA profession is the ability to have a life outside … Physician assistants can do many of the same things doctors do. Posted Jan 15, 2012. by Loux. There are several problems with working from a large list of PA school interview questions: Interview prep should be focused and strategic. Typically, physician assistants can assist in surgeries, but they are not allowed to perform surgery themselves. When you or a family member needs medical attention sooner rather than later, making an appointment with a physician assistant is often the smartest way to proceed. I also have many tips that I wish I would’ve known in hindsight that I look forward to sharing! Honestly, I don’t think I would’ve gone wrong with either career choice. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window). And you can usually secure an appointment with a qualified, capable physician assistant much sooner than you can with a doctor. . Plus, I learned many other pros to becoming a PA over a MD/DO. The only trajectory this trend is going is upwards. content@caredash.com. Yes, take me to the quiz. While NPs have more training than a registered nurse, they receive less training than a doctor. It doesn't make you any better than the average person. If they see a PA, they'll never see a PA again. Let’s say you work in an OR or NICU. While physician assistants aren’t required to complete internships or residencies, before they become certified, they must spend time (and demonstrate proficiency) working in medical clinics or hospitals.