NARUS 2019: How and Why to Petition for a Physician Assistant
1. Increase the surgeon’s productivity
2.The physician assistant will generate their revenue
3. Improve operating theatre efficiency
4. Provide resident teaching
5. Increase patient satisfaction
The physician assistant has been shown to increase revenue and increase the relative value units. Some important financial factors associated with physician assistant that must be remembered, include:
First, the physician assistant can only bill for a follow-up appointment and not for new patients. If the physician assistant sees patients by himself, then only 80% of the bill is reimbursed and goes to the physician assistant. The physician assistant is a most valued team member and can contribute both in the clinic and in the OR. He/she can do several procedures as well, including cystoscopy, stent removal, complex catheter placement, voiding cystourethrogram, and video urodynamics.
It is preferable to bill for a physician assistant for the complex cases, and it is always important to document why a physician assistant was required for the surgical case (for example the complexity of the procedure was beyond the ability of the resident).
As opposed to common belief, having a physician assistant constantly, actually enables residency teaching. It maintains consistency, the physician assistant can teach the resident how to dock and perform bedside activities, and to assist appropriately and effectively. Most importantly, it allows the resident to sit at the console and learn, and not be engaged in bedside assisting. The physician assistant can even be in charge of the simulation lab and robotic in servicing.
Dr. Stifelman concluded his talk stating that the physician assistant is also a positive factor in patient satisfaction. It provides a safety net, with a quicker return of calls and management of any pre and post-surgical issues. The physician assistant is also able to screen patients, perform pre-charting, and contribute to the continuity of care.
In summary, the physician assistant truly increased the surgeon’ productivity, can generate his/her revenue, improve OR efficiency, provide resident teaching, and improves patient satisfaction.
Presented by: Michael Stifelman, MD, Chair of Urology and Director of Robotic Surgery, Hackensack University Medical Center, Professor and Founding Chair of Urology, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University, Hackensack, New Jersey
Written By: Hanan Goldberg, MD, Urologic Oncology Fellow (SUO), University of Toronto, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre @GoldbergHanan at 2019 3rd Annual North American Robotic Urology Symposium (NARUS), February 8-9, 2018 - Las Vegas, Nevada, United States