There are many occupations where you see the rewards of your labors immediately. Medicine is oftentimes not one of them. Don’t ge me wrong. It’s rather rewarding to help a child with asthma breathe better or to relieve a young woman’s severe migraine pain, even before she’s left the office However, in several areas where we can have some of our greatest impact on society, the rewards are often imperceptible. What do I mean? Well, ours is the business of not wanting a lot of business.

Much of what we do, and what we should be doing better I might add, is… THERE’S MORE! Read the rest of this post for FREE! Register for a FREE account by clicking here. If you already have an account, log in by clicking here.

Dealing with Patients Who May Be Drug Seekers
The so-called “drug seeker” is that patient who presents to you, feigning a medical condition, in order to obtain as a reward a prescription for a controlled substance. Usually the goal is to obtain a narcotic such as oxycodone or hydrocodone. In the medical industry, these highly addictive medications are justly used in specific circumstances to treat severe pain. We must all be thankful that we have such powerful pharmaceutical agents to help those who are suffering profoundly. A common side effect of these medications is euphoria, a highly… THERE’S MORE! Read the rest of this post for FREE! Register for a FREE account by clicking here. If you already have an account, log in by clicking here.

Dealing with Insurance Companies and Third Party Payors
Health care costs are staggering! With the anticipation that our elderly population will double over the next 15 years, the financial strain will only be heightened. The healthcare resource pie is only so large. Yet, there’s no end in site to patrons arriving at the door, who feel entitled to sit down to a buffet, but expect a Tuesday night discount. There have been multiple efforts to… THERE’S MORE! Read the rest of this post for FREE! Register for a FREE account by clicking here. If you already have an account, log in by clicking here.

Paperwork, Paperwork, Paperwork
You cannot avoid it. Documentation is an absolute must. And it will take a huge chunk of your time. Oftentimes when we have a dream in our minds, we seem only to envision the spectacular moments. That’s what makes it a dream! I think of my three daughters and their dreams of being princesses. These daughters will become teenagers and they will dream of being swept away by Prince Charming. In their dream, they will have the most glorious wedding, and will live happily ever after, in continuous joy, laughter, and love for the rest of their lives. Never once in their dreams will they envision… THERE’S MORE! Read the rest of this post for FREE! Register for a FREE account by clicking here. If you already have an account, log in by clicking here.

Loving Your Patients Regardless of Their Pasts, Personalities, and Perspectives
One of the remarkable opportunities you’ll have as a physician assistant is to meet thousands of patients, who come from all different walks of life, and carry with them unique backgrounds, personalities, philosophies, perspectives, and opinions. Several of your patients will manifest idiosyncrasies of behavior or thought that may annoy you. Several will have done things, or currently do things, in their life, that you disagree strongly with. Some may have even committed serious crimes. You will encounter patients… THERE’S MORE! Read the rest of this post for FREE! Register for a FREE account by clicking here. If you already have an account, log in by clicking here.

This is the fourth post of a series to help you learn more about the physician assistant profession. My goal? Not to merely echo what you’ve already heard, but to delve deeper, so you can truly get a taste of what it means to be a physician assistant! If you’d like to start from the beginning, you can read the introductory post by clicking here.

Respecting the Freedom of the Patient to Choose
Patients are not perfect. In fact, just like you and I, they are far from it. Patients will choose to do things that are harmful to their health. This may be why they are coming to see you in the first place. You will have patients who suffer with diabetes, cirrhosis, heart disease, even cancer, primarily because they failed to take care of themselves. Many of these patients will continue to practice the same harmful habits that resulted in their diseased condition. You may be tempted to say, “Why are you even coming to see me if you’re not going to change?” Don’t say it. Don’t even think it.

The freedom to choose is sacred! It’s the ultimate gift each of us has received from God. Unless you have walked in that person’s shoes and shared the same genetics, you are not qualified to pass judgment. You will never be able to understand the vice of alcoholism unless you have suffered from it yourself, nor will you be able to comprehend the overwhelming addictiveness of using tobacco and other drugs unless you’ve fallen into the same trap. And even if you can say, “I used to smoke, and I quit.” Well that’s you, not another person, who’s made of different DNA and who’s social and psychological world is entirely different than yours. Perhaps the world your patient lives in makes it much more difficult to quit smoking. Maybe you’ll think to yourself, “Well my patients should have never started smoking or drinking in the first place.” Truly a naive perspective when you consider the lack of knowledge about how harmful these habits were (oftentimes there were even significant perceived health benefits) and the social acceptance of such behaviors through the greater part of the 20th century.

In order to be a physician assistant, you have to refrain from judgment, and respect the sacredness of choice. You must care as much about the patient who progresses at a snail’s pace as you do about the patient who makes significant changes rapidly. You must be ever patient, supportive, and encouraging. Failing to do so will result in the dissolution of the relationship you have built with the patient in the first place, and sadly, for many patients, the generalization that all healthcare providers feel the same way, thus deterring these patients from even seeking care. Move on to the next post: Being a Physician Assistant #5: Loving Your Patients Regardless of Their Pasts, Personalities, and Perspectives.

This is the third post of a series to help you learn more about the physician assistant profession. My goal? Not to merely echo what you’ve already heard, but to delve deeper, so you can truly get a taste of what it means to be a physician assistant! You can read the introduction by clicking here or post #2: Being Comfortable with the Human Body, by clicking here.

Genuinely Caring About and Having Compassion for Patients
If you want to be a physician assistant, you have to genuinely care about and have compassion for your patients. Now why do I bring this up, isn’t it obvious that you would need these traits? It should be.  It’s not.  Sad to say, there are many individuals who become healthcare providers primarily for reasons other than providing outstanding care to patients.  Perhaps they seek money or prestige.  Whatever it may be, the focus is not on the patient, which proves to be a great disservice, not only to the patient, but to society. What do I mean?  Imagine a healthcare provider, who’s primary focus is on money, working in a health care system which rewards him for seeing as many patients as possible?  Do you think the care of his patients will be compromised?  Absolutely!  The patient should come first.  Always!

Genuine care and compassion will ultimately prove to make you a better provider than all the education in the world.  Why?  Because you care enough to stop at nothing until you find a way to help your patient. Your attitude, thoughts, and actions center around the well being of your patient, not your pocketbook. Therefore, you’ll do whatever it takes. If you find yourself scratching your head about a diagnosis or the best approach to management, you’ll search and search until you can figure out what’s best, whether through evidence-based medicine resources, consulting with your supervising physician, or by contacting the local expert to discuss the case. You’ll take time with your patients, the time needed to really figure out what’s going on. You’ll develop powerful relationships with your patients, sufficient to twinge their hearts to that comfort level required to open up to you. Real communication and understanding will follow, and true healing will result. It’s the ultimate safeguard to ensuring that you become and remain an excellent provider.  It’s also what makes this profession so rewarding! If you know you’re heading into this profession for the right reasons, because you truly care about and want to compassionately help patients, move on to the next post: Being a Physician Assistant #4: Respecting the Freedom of the Patient to Choose.

This is the second post of a series to help you learn more about the physician assistant profession. My goal? Not to merely echo what you’ve already heard, but to delve deeper, so you can truly get a taste of what it means to be a physician assistant! You can read the introduction by clicking here.

Personal feelings about Being a PA
I want to begin by expressing my feelings about being a Physician Assistant. I will soon discuss several topics that challenge the glamour of working as a healthcare practitioner. Therefore, it’s important for you to understand that I love being a PA! In spite of the discomforts and frustrations, there’s nothing as wonderful and rewarding as connecting with and helping other human beings in such a meaningful way. There are few occupations that are so challenging, that require such a broad set of skills, and I’ll emphasize, few that are able to bring to surface such an array of emotions. It is indeed a marvelous occupation, one which I am proud to be a part of!

Being Comfortable with the Human Body
If you want to be a physician assistant, you have to be comfortable with bodies and all the parts that come with them. You have to be comfortable with touching and manipulating body parts of both males and females. And not just young, healthy, and attractive bodies, but aged, unhealthy, and diseased bodies as well. You have to be comfortable with carefully examining and working with deep ulcers, oozing sores, bleeding lacerations, genitalia with herpetic lesions, abscesses that express foul smelling exudate, and thick yellow fungus-filled toenails that easily slough. You have to be comfortable placing your fingers in anuses and vaginas, handling testicles, as well as lifting and displacing pendulous breasts. You also have to be comfortable with performing maneuvers that may cause patients discomfort or pain. And you MUST do all of these things with the utmost professionalism and sensitivity, fully recognizing that it’s usually much more uncomfortable for the patient than it is for you. Please don’t misunderstand, I’m not saying you have to enjoy all of these things, but you must be comfortable enough with and willing to properly perform an adequate exam for what each case demands. The potential repercussions of failing to do so are too enormous. So ask yourself, am I capable of doing these things? Frequently I am asked why most PA Programs require admission candidates to have hands-on patient care experience. One of the most important reasons includes making sure you know you’re comfortable with the human body, in all shapes, sizes, and conditions! For those of you who can never see yourself being able to do these things, no need to read on. For those of you who can, move on to Post #3: Genuinely Caring About and Having Compassion for Patients, by clicking here.

I’ve written this series of blog posts to help you learn more about the Physician Assistant profession.  But I must warn you… my goal is not to merely echo what you’ve heard before!  No, that kind of information can already be found in multiple other places, like here and here.  You know what I’m talking about.  It usually states something along the lines of the following:

Physician Assistants are highly skilled medical practitioners who work under the supervision of a physician.  They are able to carry out many of the same tasks of physicians including taking patient histories, performing physical exams, diagnosing conditions, and treating patients. Physician assistants are able to prescribe medications and perform procedures.  Although legally they require supervision, they exercise a high level of autonomy in patient care and medical decision-making. Physician assistants generally have a significant degree of health care experience prior to training and earn a Master’s degree upon fulfilling graduation requirements.

The above, although helpful to the person who has never heard of the physician assistant career, does not suffice.  No, it’s superficial and generic, especially for those researching the career to determine if it’s something they want to invest years of time and thousands of dollars to pursue.  It’s akin to being introduced to algebra, then asked if you would like to become a mathematician.  Many enjoy basic algebra, but when faced with trigonometry or calculus the mood shifts significantly.  The same applies with this profession. Many will read the description in the above paragraph and immediately fall in love with the possibility of becoming a Physician Assistant, yet not have a clue what the profession is all about!

My goal is to delve much deeper.  I want those reading these words to truly get a taste of what it means to be a physician assistant!  My suggestion for you?  Use this as an opportunity to reflect deeply about whether you should continue down the path.  If after reading through these posts you’re fired up about becoming a physician assistant, it’s something you should definitely pursue!  If, however, you’re really questioning the fit, it’s probably best that you turn your attention elsewhere.  One last thing — I will discuss everything from a primary care perspective.  Training physician assistants to practice in primary care is the major focus of every PA Program in the country save two, and is the most common practice specialty around.  So without further ado… go on to the next post… Being a Physician Assistant #2: Being Comfortable with the Human Body.