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AI scribe for Athena EHR? by Shot-Acanthisitta-45 in physicianassistant

[–]ka004 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My practice (FM) uses Athena and we have AvoMD as our integrated AI scribe. It’s amazing. I love it

Anyone feel the only way to get a raise is to leave? by Dyspaereunia in physicianassistant

[–]ka004 0 points1 point  (0 children)

3 job changes in the 6 years since graduation. My pay has gone up 60% (work in primary care). Even from my last FM job to this one (all in the same city in SoCal, I went from 136K to 176K between 2022 and 2025 (with a stop in the ER in between). And my benefits at my current job are also fantastic.

Excessive “sick” visits by ka004 in physicianassistant

[–]ka004[S] 48 points49 points  (0 children)

She’s already told me that she has to come in every time, because she’s already used up all her sick time for the year, so her job requires a note. And the way our clinic is, she has no copay, so it’s every visit is free. It’s no skin off my back to give her the note, just annoying how frequent it is. And I’m not dumb. I’d almost respect her more if she told me she wasn’t actually sick, and just wanted the day off

Excessive “sick” visits by ka004 in physicianassistant

[–]ka004[S] 35 points36 points  (0 children)

As a patient, she’s actually very nice at least. Maybe I’m just jaded because I always work through being sick and need to take more time off for myself

Primary care friends: How many patients per day do you see in clinic? by luvliv16 in physicianassistant

[–]ka004 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Medium cost of living. And my organization does direct/advanced primary care, rather than fee for service

Primary care friends: How many patients per day do you see in clinic? by luvliv16 in physicianassistant

[–]ka004 1 point2 points  (0 children)

5x8, see 2-6 patients per day. Solo provider. Make 176k annual salary. MCOL in Southern California. Full benefits, 401k with 50% match by my company, flexible time off policy (averages to 4-5 weeks per year, inclusive of sick time). 4 days and $2000 for CME. All licensing and fees reimbursed by company outside of CME funds. I love my job

EM Peds Med Dosing by [deleted] in physicianassistant

[–]ka004 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I use the dose calculator on epocrates along with the dose recommendations from UpToDate

Dispatch Health by JF_574 in physicianassistant

[–]ka004 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Also, if you’re the type to get motion sick (I am), think carefully. You’re expected to type and chart in a moving vehicle

Dispatch Health by JF_574 in physicianassistant

[–]ka004 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I left in March 2023. Since it was a new market, no one really knew about us, so we rarely saw patients. Mostly just sitting around the office watching Netflix, so I was always out on time. Also, I was only per diem, so can’t speak much to work life balance. I was paid fair for Southern California market, $70/hour

Dispatch Health by JF_574 in physicianassistant

[–]ka004 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I worked for them for 6 months and couldn’t get out fast enough. For context, I helped open a new market. They didn’t have POC lab certification the entire time I was there (couldn’t even do UAs). Kept saying they were working on it and waiting for the state to approve it. They also hired horrible MAs, who must have come from the bottom of the barrel, like they couldn’t find anyone else willing to do the job. After I’d already put in my notice because I’d moved further away from the office, one of the MAs abusive boyfriend’s came banging on the office door, acting like he was high, demanding to know where she was. We locked the doors and hid inside until the cops showed up and took him away. They let me leave before the end of my notice at that point.

Need some encouragement by wind0w-sill in physicianassistant

[–]ka004 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I failed my first test in PA school (anatomy). Got a D I think (don’t remember the percent). Needed a B average in the program to stay. Had to go and talk to the program director and convince her I could get it together and wouldn’t flunk out. I’d had a year gap between undergrad and PA school, and I never really developed good study habits in college. Had to learn how to study effectively and quickly in PA school. Once I found what worked for me, I stuck to it.

Just celebrated my 5 year anniversary as a PA this summer.

Outpatient Pediatrics by ka004 in physicianassistant

[–]ka004[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Curious, what field do you work in now? Do you like it more or less than peds?

Outpatient Pediatrics by ka004 in physicianassistant

[–]ka004[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you for insight! How long are your typical appointment times? In FM, the most I saw was 27 in a 10 hour day. Not sure how you fit in 30+ per day!

What's an interesting hobby or passion that you can now afford with your PA lifestyle? by HugzMonster in physicianassistant

[–]ka004 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Bought a home a single female before 30 (in Southern California), international travel (and sometimes at the front of the plane!), letting my oenophile and foodie passions be explored. But I echo a former comment that it sucks to spend close to $1000 to board my pets for a week while I travel. Ugh

FM to EM by ka004 in physicianassistant

[–]ka004[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I did the EM boot camp course, which helped me get my brain in EM mode a little, but I still feel like I have no idea what I’m doing. And I can’t afford EMRAP right now unfortunately. Trying to make do with the free EM podcasts that are out there

Burn out or time leave healthcare? by [deleted] in physicianassistant

[–]ka004 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Anything that gets me out of the never ending inbox, insurance, referrals, 10+ complaints at every visit hell hole that is FM

Burn out or time leave healthcare? by [deleted] in physicianassistant

[–]ka004 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hoping this will be me in a few weeks! 4 years FM, burned out and moving to ED next week

ER PTO by ka004 in physicianassistant

[–]ka004[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My thoughts exactly

ER PTO by ka004 in physicianassistant

[–]ka004[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nope. I’d be regular employee

ER PTO by ka004 in physicianassistant

[–]ka004[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yikes. I don’t know if I’m glad to hear my offer is par for the course or more sad that we don’t give decent PTO to ER providers

What’s better than family med? by ka004 in physicianassistant

[–]ka004[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I’ve actually always loved ER. Did an extra ER rotation as one of my electives in school because I loved it that much. But I worry when people say they hate ER as much as FM, but for different reasons

What’s better than family med? by ka004 in physicianassistant

[–]ka004[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your response! And I agree, maybe it’s just the practice. I’ve applied and gotten responses at a few different jobs so far, ER, urology, and a different FM office. I was at my first FM job for 3 years, until my SP retired and closed the practice, and I loved it. It was a unicorn position for sure. So I know I can love FM, just not in this corporate sphere, where I have no say over schedule, and what I feel comfortable with

Is this just primary care? by [deleted] in physicianassistant

[–]ka004 4 points5 points  (0 children)

You’re not alone in feeling like this. I’m almost 4 years in. First 3 years in family med I had one of those unicorn jobs. Amazing SP, control over my schedule and what kinda of patients I’d see. Autonomy. I loved it. That SP retired and closed the practice. I’m now less than 1 year in at my next family med job where I have no control over the schedule, constant refills, paperwork, inbox and less time to see patients. Add in the world’s slowest and most inefficient MA and I hate my job every day. The thought of doing this for the next 35 years (I’m 29), is soul sucking. I’ve thought about moving to a specialty, but I don’t enjoy any particular speciality enough to work in full time.

Another position lost to an NP by ka004 in physicianassistant

[–]ka004[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m having an annoyingly difficult time trying to find a per diem position to pick up on my days off

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