Physician Associate

[Bazile]

Apparently i have been seeing a ' Physician Associate ' at my surgery

I thought the lady in question was a Doctor .

What is a physician associate - are they as knowledgeable as a 'Proper doctor ' ?

[douglas9401]

A vet who's been to night school? Alright if you're a little hoarse or maybe have the trots.

[Buenchico]

The two roles are explained here:
http://www.haresfieldsurgery.co.uk/information-and-links/what-is-a-physician-associate/

[Bazile]

from chico's link

//...develop differential diagnoses...//

What does that mean ?

[ethandron]

No she didn't have to get it authorised. She's great and can do prescriptions for a number of fairly routine problems. They have to do a pretty intensive course to be able to do prescriptions, which are limited to certain drugs. As I see it, it saves the doctors time to deal with more complex medical problems.
However, I would like to know in advance who I was having a consultation with, which I did.

[Buenchico]

A 'differential' is part of a car, isn't it, Bazile? So it obviously means working out whether your car's gearbox is bust or not.

Alternatively though . . .
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2991

;-)

[Sqad]

Bazile

So with respect to sqad's question
"Is a nurse practitioner more qualified than a Physician Associate ?"

Difficult to sort out but the answer clearly is.....NO.....
But my main question...."so what does the GP do?"
Why another layer to be paid for by the tax payer.

[Bazile]

chris
Are you here all week , taking bookings for Weddings , Birthdays , Bar Mitzvahs :-)

[Bazile]

Thanks all for your replies ( in case i forget to say so )

[ethandron]

Both a physician associate and a nurse practitioner are far more qualified for giving medical advice than a consultants secretary. Just saying...

[Buenchico]

Bazile:
I'm always here 'cos I'm not actually real. I'm a computer designed by some bored university students ages ago, who left me switched on in an unused storeroom and then forgot about me. My diodes are getting a bit worn, and some of my circuits aren't as integrated as they used to be, but I struggle on ;-)

[Sqad]

ethandron......maybe......maybe not.......just saying.
A secretary who has worked in a specialty with one or more consultants, writing letters to the GP,s on a daily basis can almost guess what her "boss" is going to suggest and in that small corner alone, she will be well versed.
Just saying.

[Jackdaw33]

I can beat that one. After 5 weeks in hospital in August a lovely plump young lady came to see me as I was dozing. She introduced herself as the ward dietitian auxillary. I managed to rouse myself only to see what she was pulling behind her. She was the tea lady!

[bednobs]

or he sqad ... just sayin!
if you are a prescriber, you are not limited to specific parts of the BNF: you can prescribe anything. In practice you don't though - just like doctors don't

[Sqad]

bednobs....I have never in a lifetime come across a MALE secretary.........now a female one, i have "come across" a few times ;-)

[Sqad]

Just saying!

[anneasquith]

Yuck :-(

[Mamyalynne]

Antiseptic wipe Anne?

[anneasquith]

At the very least M.

[douglas9401]

Now Wash Your Hands.


Takes me back. :)

[Bazile]

chris

I thought you are more like -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Doctor_(Star_Trek:_Voyager)