Current Events > Your doctor may not be a doctor.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Just found out my "doctor" is a physician's assistant. Holy shit.
---

I don't have a doctor I see regularly.
I just use the old wives methods for curing
---

Which is fine if all you ever need is cold medicine.
---

I went and seen a cocaine doctor.
And he said, "Wilford, if you wanna get better... you're gonna have to die."

And ladies and gentlemen, that's exactly, exactly the way it's been.

---

AngelSeven posted...

Just found out my "doctor" is a physician's assistant. Holy shit.

That "PA" or "PA-C" after their name didn't give it away?
---

Role playing ftw
---

Some PAs are better than some doctors

Everyone is better than a surgeon
---

Super Saiyan 3 Goku posted...

AngelSeven posted...

Just found out my "doctor" is a physician's assistant. Holy shit.

That "PA" or "PA-C" after their name didn't give it away?

Lol right

Everyone is better than a surgeon

In our hospital, we use Eliquis for DVT prophylaxis following hip/knee replacements. One of our orthopedic surgeons (who is also a pharmacist!) once requested that one of his patients be put on warfarin instead because of various DDIs with Eliquis.

I'm not even kidding.
---

Super Saiyan 3 Goku posted...

Everyone is better than a surgeon

In our hospital, we use Eliquis for DVT prophylaxis following hip/knee replacements. One of our orthopedic surgeons (who is also a pharmacist!) once requested that one of his patients be put on warfarin instead because of various DDIs with Eliquis.

I'm not even kidding.

Instant PE
---

DarkRoast posted...

Super Saiyan 3 Goku posted...

Everyone is better than a surgeon

In our hospital, we use Eliquis for DVT prophylaxis following hip/knee replacements. One of our orthopedic surgeons (who is also a pharmacist!) once requested that one of his patients be put on warfarin instead because of various DDIs with Eliquis.

I'm not even kidding.

Instant PE

Like what the hell interaction would you get on Eliquis and not warfarin? Freaking water probably interacts with warfarin.

My current job has taught me that surgeons don't know jack about medications.
---

Plus warfarin depletes protein C and S before the other cofactors, making you hypercoagulable.
---

Yes, this is a true. PA-C's essentially do doctor stuff, but aren't "officially" considered a doctor since they still need an official certification to make it an official thing.

That being said, if you have a PA-C, you're probably fine for the most part. Obv. this depends on what the specialty involved is (eg: for plastic surgery you damn sure better be going to a certified doctor), but if it's like dermatology or gynecology or something, you'll be fine with a PA-C.
---

Ludacris01 posted...

Yes, this is a true. PA-C's essentially do doctor stuff, but aren't "officially" considered a doctor since they still need an official certification to make it an official thing.

There's a lot more than that:

1) PAs only have one year of core sciences. MDs have two.

2) PAs don't have a 3-5 year residency after graduation.

3) The PA certification exam is much, much easier than the USMLE
---

DarkRoast posted...

Ludacris01 posted...

Yes, this is a true. PA-C's essentially do doctor stuff, but aren't "officially" considered a doctor since they still need an official certification to make it an official thing.

There's a lot more than that:

1) PAs only have one year of core sciences. MDs have two.

2) PAs don't have a 3-5 year residency after graduation.

3) The PA certification exam is much, much easier than the USMLE

So in other words, you agree with me

excellent
---

Ludacris01 posted...

Yes, this is a true. PA-C's essentially do doctor stuff, but aren't "officially" considered a doctor since they still need an official certification to make it an official thing.

Do they get some sort of doctorate because the staff refers to him as doctor so just wondering.
---

AngelSeven posted...

Ludacris01 posted...

Yes, this is a true. PA-C's essentially do doctor stuff, but aren't "officially" considered a doctor since they still need an official certification to make it an official thing.

Do they get some sort of doctorate because the staff refers to him as doctor so just wondering.

Mostly out of respect, given the amount of work they do and often times the amount of clinical decision-making bear allowed to have. My primary care provider is a PA, and I call him doctor
---

AngelSeven posted...

Ludacris01 posted...

Yes, this is a true. PA-C's essentially do doctor stuff, but aren't "officially" considered a doctor since they still need an official certification to make it an official thing.

Do they get some sort of doctorate because the staff refers to him as doctor so just wondering.

If there's a big problem or issue with you, then the official doctor will step in since they will handle that.

But if everything is fine, or there is a problem that is more on the minor side that isn't life threatening, PA-C's will be able to deal with those just fine usually (though the official doc may still step in to double check and make sure it's all good).

Invasive/surgical stuff will be done by a doc though.
---

DarkRoast posted...

AngelSeven posted...

Ludacris01 posted...

Yes, this is a true. PA-C's essentially do doctor stuff, but aren't "officially" considered a doctor since they still need an official certification to make it an official thing.

Do they get some sort of doctorate because the staff refers to him as doctor so just wondering.

Mostly out of respect, given the amount of work they do and often times the amount of clinical decision-making bear allowed to have. My primary care provider is a PA, and I call him doctor

I honestly think this is misleading.
---

There are two kinds of mid-level providers:

PA - Attends a 3 year "mini med school" of sorts, then works under a supervising physician basically (legally) as a proxy.

APRN - An RN who gets a PhD in advanced practice. These were previously nurses who got advanced training and are (usually) legally allowed to practice independently without a supervising physician. Independent practice is generally limited to clinic. APRNs who work in the hospital have supervising physicians.
---

DarkRoast posted...

There are two kinds of mid-level providers:

PA - Attends a 3 year "mini med school" of sorts, then works under a supervising physician basically (legally) as a proxy.

APRN - An RN who gets a PhD in advanced practice. These were previously nurses who got advanced training and are (usually) legally allowed to practice independently without a supervising physician. Independent practice is generally limited to clinic. APRNs who work in the hospital have supervising physicians.

So would something like a dentist fit in the first category?
---

A dentist is basically a specialized orthopedic doctor that only works on teeth.

They're not "doctors" in the traditional sense, but they are essentially top-level healthcare providers in their field.
---

AngelSeven posted...

DarkRoast posted...

There are two kinds of mid-level providers:

PA - Attends a 3 year "mini med school" of sorts, then works under a supervising physician basically (legally) as a proxy.

APRN - An RN who gets a PhD in advanced practice. These were previously nurses who got advanced training and are (usually) legally allowed to practice independently without a supervising physician. Independent practice is generally limited to clinic. APRNs who work in the hospital have supervising physicians.

So would something like a dentist fit in the first category?

no, a dentist is an actual doc

dental assistants (the person doing your cleanings) - most likely
---

DarkRoast posted...

There are two kinds of mid-level providers:

PA - Attends a 3 year "mini med school" of sorts, then works under a supervising physician basically (legally) as a proxy.

APRN - An RN who gets a PhD in advanced practice. These were previously nurses who got advanced training and are (usually) legally allowed to practice independently without a supervising physician. Independent practice is generally limited to clinic. APRNs who work in the hospital have supervising physicians.

Usually APRNs have a DNP or Masters. PhDs are typically for those in academia (and there are many non APRNs with PhDs), though there are a good handful of people with both a DNP and PhD.
---

Thanks for the clarification guys ^_^
---