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Question about seeing a PA

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Posted 3/14/2022 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
My wife’s oncologist has two PAs working with her. My wife has two visits a year, one with the PA and one with the MO. She gets the same blood work for markers each time. She prefers the PA as more time is provided with a lot more questioning and examination. She also gets a call from the PA reviewing the bloodwork and any significance. The MO basically asks how are you and that is about it. My wife would change MOs except she likes the work the PA is doing.
Posted 3/14/2022 6:51 PM (GMT 0)
I am entering my 5th year of <0.01. My blood works looks great. So I see my MO once or twice a year and a NP the other times. I could probably go to 6 month visits but I like my MO office and am sure they appreciate the cash flow. If I need to talk to my MO anytime I can call him.
Posted 3/14/2022 6:55 PM (GMT 0)
Doctors who are on staff at larger institutions and who are heavily involved in clinical trials (especially oncological ones) often have a NP or PA, who sees patients in a trial on site-visit days (e.g. a treatment day, ordering bloodwork and other tests, documenting all adverse events from sniffles to major crises, doing PEs, ensuring the patient is well enough to receive treatment). The MD (often with the NP/PA) might be more likely to see the patient e.g., when the results of assessment scans are in and a decision needs to be made as to whether the patient can continue on the study or must be discontinued because of disease progression, although this varies by doctor and by oncologic specialty (thoracic, hematology, etc.)

Djin

Post Edited (DjinTonic) : 3/14/2022 8:26:41 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 3/15/2022 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
Like JNF and Djin noted, my wife’s oncologist is a professor at the University and is involved in research, trials, etc. She currently alternates 3 month visits with the doctor and her PA. Her doctor is currently not taking new patients given the academic and research requirements of the job.

PA’s are just part of the medical landscape now due to lack of doctors. The ortho practice we go to refers to them as Physician Extenders and every doctor has one plus support staff.
Posted 3/15/2022 4:28 AM (GMT 0)
alephnull,
Yours was a simple question and my answer is simple. Be pissed off! Demand to see the Doctor!
PAs an NP are good and well, had some good ones, and also bad ones(like at Kaiser) but it's not what I am ever looking for for Cancer treatment advice. They did the same thing to me and I wrote an e-mail. My Onc Doc assured me and agreed that he will always see me, or re-schedule when he is off.
Wingmeister
Posted 3/15/2022 2:46 PM (GMT 0)
My MIL went to JHU for an outpatient endoscopic procedure, but they punctured her duodenum and long story short, she spent a *year* in the hospital recovering. I'm amazed she survived.
Either my wife or her sister were there with her every day for that year. I refer to them as the pit bull and the velvet hammer. Different styles, but both were very strong advocates for their mother's care. You do that for a year, you also learn a lot about dealing with the system.
If I ask them, they'll tell you the key is to find the people that listen, PA, NP, DO, or MD, and work closely with them. Be in the middle of the care decision process. No, actually drive it. Build a relationship. Throw anyone you don't want off the team. Be the bad patient, the squeaky wheel.
The stories they tell...
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