Medical Assistants in the office

Specialties Ambulatory

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klone, MSN, RN

14,790 Posts

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

On the other hand, I work with several MAs, and they're all very helpful, knowledgeable about their jobs, pleasant and professional to patients, and know when and what to defer to the RN.

Hayest, the common denominator with your physician's MAs is your PHYSICIAN. Clearly he lacks good judgment if he keeps hiring duds. Maybe you should be looking for a new practice, rather than denigrating all MAs and saying they shouldn't exist.

hayest

74 Posts

Hayest, the common denominator with your physician's MAs is your PHYSICIAN. Clearly he lacks good judgment if he keeps hiring duds. Maybe you should be looking for a new practice, rather than denigrating all MAs and saying they shouldn't exist.

You are absolutely right and I have known that for years. However, my MD does have good judgement, just is stubborn with what we tell him about his MAs. No one wants to admit they hired the wrong person. The ones they seem to hire are lazy, no initiative, incompetent. They seem to be more interested with their cell phones or the computer googling. I have told him to let me interview and give them my choice. They seem to pick the first one who walks through the door instead of really going through a good interview process. They should interview about 6 and then reduce to 3 and reinterview with new questions. Reduce one again and reinterview the two remaining and not just take the first person they interview. Also check references, backgrounds, etc. People can make themselves look really good on paper. They need to read inbetween the lines of their resumes. He admitted to me a few weeks ago when he told me that he will be interviewing someone that day. He said if this doesn't work, he will go through an agency because obviously he is not choosing the right ones and is doing something wrong. I replied "you keep choosing the first one that walks through the door." I have told him to stop and wait, the right person will come to you when you least expect it. Then I said "don't take this one and call the agency". Honestly, he can do the majority of the work the MA's do himself. He is a concierge physician and doesn't have the amount of patients as with his old practice. He comes to get me from the waiting room, does my vitals, etc. He will text, email or call me. However, I feel one mature RN would be able to run the office without MA's. My MD also said he would like to fine a couple of retired RN's who would want to work part time. I think part time RNs would be the best fit for this practice also.

klone, MSN, RN

14,790 Posts

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

Can I ask, how much do you pay for concierge physician services? Is he a GP, family practice, internal medicine? Is this for all your general healthcare, or is he a specialist? What made you decide to go with a concierge instead of a traditional practice?

hayest

74 Posts

Can I ask, how much do you pay for concierge physician services? Is he a GP, family practice, internal medicine? Is this for all your general healthcare, or is he a specialist? What made you decide to go with a concierge instead of a traditional practice?

Of course you can ask. We pay $1650 each (husband and me). It's hard for us to afford it, but we realized you can't put a price on your health. He is an internal medicine physician. Our children also sees him without the retainer fee. They have a great relationship with him too. They will reach out to him by texting. We went to a family doctor (for 27 years) who took care of us, delivered our kids, took care of them. The practice grew and we became a number and not a patient. It was hard to see our primary MD and would have to see others. There were a few who we really liked, but still we were a number. I was about 6 months past due for my yearly. I was searching for physicians and had an appointment with one. My husband works at a hospital and always talked about this one MD. I asked my husband to ask him if he would take us on as patients. He actually had a closed practice, but my husband asked him and he took us on. The first time I met him I was absolutely amazed. I went in for my yearly and I received a 2 1/2 hour physical. I never had that before. The doctor who I saw for 27 years never listened to my heart. This MD did everything from head to toe. He diagnosed me with diabetes (but so did the previous MD) -- the difference was: New MD took action and scheduled me for classes at the hospital, the other MD did not. He said you have diabetes, take this medication.... that was it. My new MD, scheduled me for classes, indicated that he would like me to begin to walk, of course, prescribed some medication. He called me several days later, week later two weeks later to see how I was doing. The first MD -- I was just a number. After a few years with the new MD, he changed to a concierge practice. We were debating to join or not. I finally decided that I would join, but my husband wasn't. We ended up going to the forum where the MDs gave a presentation about the concierge service. We both knew how good this MD was, but when he said "I will now have time to personally call my patients back with their results" is what confirmed us joining. We have him 24/7, his cell # (no answering machines), at least 30 minute appts. There are a lot of perks. I have lost 103 lbs due to his support and encouragement. He walks with me when I need a walking buddy. He started a walking group because of me. He has gone to tests that I needed and was nervous, which I appreciated, which I was glad he went because he saw first hand besides eventually receiving the reports. He was with me in a minor surgery procedure a few years ago and a week ago in surgery with me. Actually, he started my IV, held me during the epidural, held my hand and talked to me during surgery" --- The care we have received has been unbelievable. I would NEVER go back to what we didn't have. A concierge MD is the only way to go. It's more of a personal/intimate practice. He knows us and we know him. More comfortable and relaxing atmosphere.

klone, MSN, RN

14,790 Posts

Specializes in OB-Gyn/Primary Care/Ambulatory Leadership.

The $1650 is....per month? Do you also pay OOP for all the labs and tests? Or does your insurance cover that?

Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

hayest, do you also work for this MD you keep speaking of, who am assuming is your family's personal MD? Your style of demands to him is "interesting" to say the very least...

You are absolutely right and I have known that for years. However, my MD does have good judgement, just is stubborn with what we tell him about his MAs. No one wants to admit they hired the wrong person. The ones they seem to hire are lazy, no initiative, incompetent. They seem to be more interested with their cell phones or the computer googling. I have told him to let me interview and give them my choice. They seem to pick the first one who walks through the door instead of really going through a good interview process. They should interview about 6 and then reduce to 3 and reinterview with new questions. Reduce one again and reinterview the two remaining and not just take the first person they interview. Also check references, backgrounds, etc. People can make themselves look really good on paper. They need to read inbetween the lines of their resumes. He admitted to me a few weeks ago when he told me that he will be interviewing someone that day. He said if this doesn't work, he will go through an agency because obviously he is not choosing the right ones and is doing something wrong. I replied "you keep choosing the first one that walks through the door." I have told him to stop and wait, the right person will come to you when you least expect it. Then I said "don't take this one and call the agency". Honestly, he can do the majority of the work the MA's do himself. He is a concierge physician and doesn't have the amount of patients as with his old practice. He comes to get me from the waiting room, does my vitals, etc. He will text, email or call me. However, I feel one mature RN would be able to run the office without MA's. My MD also said he would like to fine a couple of retired RN's who would want to work part time. I think part time RNs would be the best fit for this practice also.
Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

Wow, $1650 is a LOT. www.plattemedical.com this is the concierge clinic that my parents us.

hayest

74 Posts

The $1650 is....per month? Do you also pay OOP for all the labs and tests? Or does your insurance cover that?

$1650 is annually. We still need insurance and insurance takes care of office visits. Our labs are processed at the hospital where my husband works and they are 100% covered. The $1650 gives us a yearly executive style physical, with tests and labs (those labs are included in the $1650. We can reach our doctor 24/7, we have his cell, no answering machines. We call, we get him. Text, emails go directly to him. 30 minute appts if not longer. Hardly any waiting. Unhurried office.

hayest

74 Posts

Wow, $1650 is a LOT. www.plattemedical.com this is the concierge clinic that my parents us.

Looks like an excellent concierge practice. There are several in this area set up similar to the clinic your parents go to. $1650 is a lot and it's hard. I'm glad we are able to make quarterly payments.

Specializes in HH, Peds, Rehab, Clinical.

hayest, are you a nurse?

Red Kryptonite

2,212 Posts

Specializes in hospice.

In another thread, she said those MAs were fired for having tattoos and piercings.

.

As a patient in an office where they have had multiple medical assistants that have been hired and are now gone - due to their piercings and multiple tattoos

hayest

74 Posts

In another thread, she said those MAs were fired for having tattoos and piercings.

My mistake on how I worded that. Every MA in the office has piercings and tattoos, some more than others. They were terminated due to the mistakes that were made over and over again and being incompetent. As well as patients were complaining. They just happened to have the tattoos and piercings. My apology for the way I worded it the first time.

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