Medical Assistants in the office

[SHELLYBELLYRN]

This is probably going to open a can of worms.............but how do you all feel about replacing nurses in the office setting with Medical Assistants? How (if at all) do you feel it affects patient care?

Do any of the MA's in your offices refer to themselves as "nurses"? Have you had any problems with the knowledge base of the MA's? How are they with patient education?

May be just my situation, but I have run across some significant problems in this area................and not sure how to address it...........or even if I can address it.

[hayest]

hayest, are you a nurse?

No, I'm a patient who expects nothing but the best when paying an annual fee. Although, my fee is for the physician's services and the care he gives to us which is top notch, but he wants to increase his patient load a little, but with the employees he has as will not boost that increase of patients. People have left because of them. We haven't, because we will deal directly with the MD and bypass the staff.

[kemo1121]

All these replies are eerily similar to what doctors complain about on their forums. You know CRNA and NPs are given too much autonomy or when a DNP refers to him or herself as doctor.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Hayest, I'm curious - why do you feel you have the right to be a part of the interview process when your physician hires staff?

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

And you are posting on a website for nurses (and MA's, CNA's, students) for what reason? Seemingly to bash every medical assistant you have ever had the misfortune of being seen by...

No, I'm a patient who expects nothing but the best when paying an annual fee. Although, my fee is for the physician's services and the care he gives to us which is top notch, but he wants to increase his patient load a little, but with the employees he has as will not boost that increase of patients. People have left because of them. We haven't, because we will deal directly with the MD and bypass the staff.

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

Right?! This is a pretty ballsy patient!!!

Hayest, I'm curious - why do you feel you have the right to be a part of the interview process when your physician hires staff?

[hayest]

Hayest, I'm curious - why do you feel you have the right to be a part of the interview process when your physician hires staff?

I didn't say I have the right to be part of the interview. I told him "let me interview the next time" and I have even asked him to let me look over the resumes". As I mentioned, he admitted to me a few weeks ago that he is obviously doing something wrong with hiring. He's not finding the right person. It's hard to explain, I have a great relationship with my doctor. He's not just my doctor, we are friends. We go out to dinner with him and his wife, we have been invited to their kids graduations, weddings, as well as they have been invited to our celebrations. As mentioned in an earlier post, when he had several at the same time who were making mistakes after mistakes .. I told him hire me for a day and I will clean house. He smiled and said "I know you would" and then said "maybe one day I will hire you for a day". Plus, I do feel with the price we pay to be part of this practice, we have every right to voice our opinion on who they hire in regards to what we see, hear, the mistakes, etc. I'm sure our retainer fee is paying for their salaries.

[klone, MSN, RN]

Plus, I do feel with the price we pay to be part of this practice, we have every right to voice our opinion on who they hire in regards to what we see, hear, the mistakes, etc. I'm sure our retainer fee is paying for their salaries.

Okay, but should his other 300 patients have a right to voice their opinions as well? Can you imagine the HR nightmare that would be if his staff had to be approved by all of his patients?

[hayest]

Okay, but should his other 300 patients have a right to voice their opinions as well? Can you imagine the HR nightmare that would be if his staff had to be approved by all of his patients?

Yes I do! Every patient has the right to voice their opinions and I hope they do. I know many patients are scared to say anything and keep things to themselves. Some of them just don't say anything because nothing would be done. I've suggested to him to put a hidden camera and microphone in the area where the MA's are and he would be shocked at what goes on.

[OrganizedChaos, LVN]

Yes I do! Every patient has the right to voice their opinions and I hope they do. I know many patients are scared to say anything and keep things to themselves. Some of them just don't say anything because nothing would be done. I've suggested to him to put a hidden camera and microphone in the area where the MA's are and he would be shocked at what goes on.

If they are paying that much they should be getting top notch care. But I don't believe, as a patient you should be privy to the interviews.

A hidden camera & a microphone??? Wow. That's an invasion of privacy. If I worked somewhere & my boss hid a camera & microphone you bet I would sue them. I've worked in corrections, so I'm use to having cameras all around but there is nothing hidden about them.

[BuckyBadgerRN, ASN, RN]

You didn't answer my question. WHY are you posting here? You are NOT a nurse. You are NOT a medical assistant. You are NOT a CNA. You are NOT a student of any medical career. Seriously, this website is NOT meant for you.

Yes I do! Every patient has the right to voice their opinions and I hope they do. I know many patients are scared to say anything and keep things to themselves. Some of them just don't say anything because nothing would be done. I've suggested to him to put a hidden camera and microphone in the area where the MA's are and he would be shocked at what goes on.

[happyinmyheart]

There's an MA program in my area. It has no prerequisites, no high school grade requirements, all you need is a GED. It's simply a 6 month training program. I don't know about you.... But I would prefer a little more training from someone involved in my healthcare. I'm not saying MA's are bad, I just think their education varies drastically... And people view them as nurses (which is also dangerous)

[klone, MSN, RN]

Some of them just don't say anything because nothing would be done.

Okay, so WHY do you pay $1600/year for this practice? He had his clerical staff reading your personal emails to him, he hires unprofessional clinical staff that give out wrong information and practice outside their scope, he doesn't pay attention or care about patient complaints, and he went against your wishes to use Lidocaine before an IV start. And that is just what you shared here.

I would say that if you're going to a concierge practice, you should be expecting and getting higher standards for care.

(I still think it's presumptuous to expect that you should have input in his hiring decisions, however)