Physician Associate, has anybody heard of these or been treated by one?

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Notch7

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I had never heard of them until a discussion on LBC yesterday

It seems they are becoming more commonplace in GP surgeries and hospitals.

Some kind of GP-lite as I understand it

Should the general public be worried by this?
 
As with most jobs, there are always aspects that can be done by less skilled people. They aren't doctors.

Physician associate

Entry requirements You’ll usually need a bioscience-related first degree to get onto one of the training programmes available. Undergraduate integrated Master of Physician Associate Studies programmes are now available and these courses require A-levels or equivalent for entry. Alternatively, if...
www.healthcareers.nhs.uk www.healthcareers.nhs.uk
 
Nurses do some appointments in sole surgeries. Used well they're a good thing.
 
IT Minion said:
Nurses do some appointments in sole surgeries. Used well they're a good thing.
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of course.

but Associate physicians are making diagnosis on a 1/3 of the training of a doctor….I’m not sure that’s wise.

It may be a good thing or not, I really don’t know.

it would be interesting to hear from somebody who is involved in medical practice
 
The PA from our practice does house calls to the MIL who is under constant care at home, he will tweak a prescription etc but any new issues are referred to the Doc
 
Notch7 said:
They are working as locums in GP surgeries.

thats a DRs job.

if they aren’t doctors why are they seemingly doing the job of a Dr
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I dunno, I’m just commenting on the entry requirements and qualifications. It leads to a masters. Entry requirements degree or a levels plus experience

When you think of it. Half of what a GP does must blood pressure and antibiotics
 
I was seen by one at our local surgery earlier in the year. Nice enough young man but............he had to go and get my doctor to see me in the end.
 
A sport science graduate, biologist or chemist could do this job.
The problem is that they don't stick to the job description but act as doctors.
 
I sometimes wonder if the receptionists are the ones really in charge.

”and why do you think you need to see the Dr, what exactly is wrong with you…….”
 
Notch7 said:
I sometimes wonder if the receptionists are the ones really in charge.

”and why do you think you need to see the Dr, what exactly is wrong with you…….”
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I read this year that for the first time, the number of receptionists is greater than the number of GP's.
 
My appt was with a physician associate, but she introduced herself as an advanced nurse practioner and had been a paramedic. For what I had - rib injury - Im pretty sure she knew more practically, if not medically, as a GP did. Receptionists do a lot of triarging now.
 
Notch7 said:
of course.

but Associate physicians are making diagnosis on a 1/3 of the training of a doctor….I’m not sure that’s wise.

It may be a good thing or not, I really don’t know.

it would be interesting to hear from somebody who is involved in medical practice
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I think I've had dealings but font recognise
Associate physicians
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I didn't feel much faith in the one I see. She certainly wasn't a doctor.
 
What amounts to, 'doctor-apprenticeships', are 50 years overdue, in my view. Nursing is adopting the idea, and so should the quacks. There are umpteen ways it could be done.
 
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