Hospital FA Preference: PA versus RN

[Kabin]

I've found some hospitals use PA FAs exclusively. I'm not sure how common this is. Anyone know a stat reference identifying how many hospitals use RNFAs or which hospitals aren't RNFA friendly?

[suzanne4, RN]

I worked several in AZ that were equally staffed. It has more to do with who the physicians want, than anything else.

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Where I work, we have a variety. Our neuro group has several PAs, a CRNP, and an RNFA. Ortho has several PAs, and one of our general group has a PA. For the cases where none of those are present, we use two surg techs, one at the table and one to assist by retracting, suctioning, ect.

[elcue]

We use both. The hospital provides RNFAs on request. A number of surgeons use PAs whom they employ.

[Kabin]

Everyone, thanks for the info!

[jer_sd]

One issue that may cause a prefrence is billing for assistant services. RNs and RNFAs are extremly hard to bill for from Medicare. Private insurance varies greatly.

NPs and PAs are easy if they have a provider # for medicare.

Jeremy

[Kabin]

Related to the PA versus RNFA topic, I ran into a retired anesthesiologist at the gym today and he threw water on the RNFA area with this summary: "Why would a surgeon use an RFNA when he can use a PA that can do so many more things in the OR."

Not wanting to argue I just nodded and smiled but it dawned on me the answer is all about cost and using RNFAs in a suitable role that doesn't require extra PA skills.

And I don't doubt there will be areas like Jeremy says that are still struggling with how to pay RNFAs.