Pros and Cons of Seeing a Physician’s Assistant (PA) vs. a Doctor

Recently at my husbands work, three doctors lost their jobs and were replaced with Physician’s Assistants. What are the pros and cons of visiting a Physician’s Assistant vs a Doctor? 

Aspect Physician’s Assistant (PA) Pros Physician’s Assistant (PA) Cons Doctor Pros Doctor Cons
Education and Training Less formal education required Less training than doctors Extensive education and training
Scope of Practice Can handle many routine cases Limited scope compared to doctors Can handle complex medical cases
Availability More available for appointments Less availability due to higher demand
Cost Typically lower cost Typically higher cost
Patient Interaction Often spends more time with patients May have shorter appointment times due to busy schedules
Follow-Up Care May need to refer to a doctor for complex cases Can provide comprehensive follow-up care
Prescribing Medication Can prescribe medications Prescription authority may vary by state Full authority to prescribe medications
Specialization Less likely to specialize in a specific area Specializes in specific fields

Pros of Seeing a Physician’s Assistant (PA) vs. a Doctor

  1.  Most common conditions and procedures treated/performed by a PA result in equal outcomes as treatment from an MD/DO. 
  2. It is easier to get into a Physician’s Assistant than it is to see a Doctor most times. 
  3. Ultimately, a lot of medical care comes down to how well you connect with your provider, and PAs can be just as good, if not better at times with connecting to their patients and being more relatable.
  4. Many Doctors I have worked with agree that Medical School can tend to be overkill on how much they teach you. Most Physicians say they only remember about 25% of what they were taught, and less than that is actually applicable to their practice. With less schooling (less than half of what med school is) PAs learn only what is truly necessary to treat their patients.

Cons of Seeing a Physician Assistant (PA) vs. a Doctor

  1. You are paying the same amount for less education. A doctor has gone to school for 2 years of studying, 2 years of rotations, 3-7 years of residency, and sometimes 2 plus years of fellowship. This equals more experience and knowledge as a doctor from the get-go. PA school is only 2-3 years total and then straight to work for them where they are trained on the job.
  2. Companies are hiring more Physician Assistance because they are cheaper than a doctor. So there are fewer doctors to get in and see. Which is so frustrating!
  3. Doctors tend to take on the more complicated patient cases, meaning unless you have some real problems, you might be stuck without choosing who to see. 
  4. On the flip side, if you do have serious problems, you’ll have to spend several visits trying to convince the PA that you really do need to see the Doctor. This means a lot of wasted time and money just to get the care you need.
  5. This one was a personal experience of mine. I had knee pain for a year anytime I jumped or lifted weights and finally decided to go to the Doctor. As a poor college student without insurance, the only place I could afford was the free school clinic on campus where I was seen by a PA. Without even allowing me to get an X-ray because it would be “too expensive and probably wouldn’t show anything.” The PA told me that I was just born this way and would always have knee pain. When I asked him how I could get rid of the pain to play basketball (one of my all-time favorite pastimes). He told me to just not do anything that would cause pain, or in other words, just stop playing altogether. Unsatisfied with his advice, I went to see a DO sports med doctor. Their X-rays were done, and a proper exam. He found my groin muscles were too weak compared to my outside (lateral) quad muscles pulling my kneecaps out of alignment. With about a month of directed exercises, I have not had any pain since! There, wall-of-china-rant over!