Seeing A Rheumatologist verses Physician's Assistant. What to do?
My regular rheumatologist was retiring so he setup my next appointment with another rheumatologist in the group. I experienced a flare up before that appointment and was seen by the group's PA. She gave me a script for pain and wanted to see me back in a few weeks. I told her I had an appointment with the rheumatologist around that time frame. She checked the computer and said there was no scheduled appointment for me. (I didn't have the appointment card with me to show her.) Oh well ok I'll see you in a few weeks. At that appointment she said I'll see you back in 3 months! I then asked her when was I going to see the Rheumatologist? She was quite put out by that question. She told me I'd have to request to see the Rheumatologist and continued with how much experience she has. I'm now feeling like I don't want to go back there.
I've been with this practice for 7 or 8 years now and feel a PA is ok in pinch but not on a continuing basis. Am I wrong?
Hi
. I almost choked when I read about the PA being put out concerning your question on seeing the rheumatologist. You are the patient and it would have been completely understandable for you to feel put out that your rheumatology appointment seems to have disappeared. Regardless of how much experience the PA claims, a rheumatologist has years of additional training in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disease and systemic autoimmune conditions beyond that of other doctors and the PA is not a doctor. Is there a person in the scheduling department you can speak to regarding the appointment you had scheduled and in regards to making this right concerning seeing the rheumatologist? If the plan is for your primary RA care to now be handled by a PA it would be completely understandable for you to look at other options, particularly given it sounds like none of this was discussed with you. Wishing you the best. Richard (Team Member) Thank you. I'm totally thinking of leaving the practice!
Just wanted to add to Richard's info that this happened to me recently after 20 years, and it has happened to so many other people I am hearing lately. More and more PAs are being hired because of.. what else, cost, and they are pushing them more and more. You have every single right to request to see the actual doctor, and you also have rights to your own medical records (assuming you are in America, also applies in most states). You should check with your own state laws if you are thinking of going to another practice so that you can insist on your medical records to take with you if you go! I wish I hadn't heard this before but, unfortunately, I keep hearing it more and more lately. Let us know if there's anything we can do to help. Keep on keepin' on, DPM Thank you. The practice recently hired two PAs. Didn't have any before to my knowledge.
