Healthcare can be a confusing system for patients to navigate. However, Casper Medical Imaging & Outpatient Radiology (CMI & OPR) are advocates for patients, ensuring their understanding and comfort from the moment they walk through the door. The last thing patients need is to feel unsure about who will be overseeing their care. Patients can rest assured that at CMI & OPR and WIVA, they will be seen by a qualified and trained provider.
At CMI & OPR and WIVA, their Physician Assistants work very closely with both their radiologists and vascular surgeons in collaborative efforts to provide excellent patient diagnostic evaluation and develop a treatment plan that fits the needs of each patient. Certified Physician Assistants, or PA-Cs, play a crucial role in radiology by providing patient care, diagnostic imaging, and treatment plans. Ensuring patient comfort is always a priority, here are some frequently asked questions when it comes to PAs.
What is a PA?
PAs are licensed medical professionals who provide direct patient care, diagnose and treat illnesses, perform minor procedures, and more. They work closely and collaboratively with other healthcare providers, physicians, and other members of the healthcare team. Their duties include taking patient histories, performing physical exams, ordering and conducting tests like CT scans, X-rays, and MRIs, preliminary image interpretation, assisting and performing image-guided procedures like biopsies, and providing treatment recommendations to patients.
CMI & OPR and WIVA have three board-certified physician assistants on their team including Shawn Ficken, Malary Cotnoir, and Lindsey McLean. Each has graduated from nationally accredited PA programs, passed the required certification, and obtained a license to practice in Wyoming. They maintain their certification and licensure by obtaining 100 hours of CME training every two years. The field of medicine is an evolving field and PAs are always learning and adapting to new techniques geared by evidence-based knowledge.
“Radiologists are medical doctors, so they do have more specialized training in reading and interpreting medical images. However, PAs work closely and collaboratively with physicians and still have a high level of expertise in interpreting images. Our goal is to work as an extension of the physicians, so patients always receive professional care,” says Shawn Ficken, PA-C.
Is it OK to see a PA instead of a Radiologist?
During the past several years, the role of an interventional radiologist has continued to evolve and the scope of procedures performed by these medical professionals has seen robust growth, leading to increased strain and workload on practicing physicians. PAs help combat this high procedural demand on diagnostic and interventional radiologists. They often serve as extensions to MDs and have extensive education, training, qualifications, and scope of practice.
“The short answer is ‘yes.’ PAs work hand in hand with physicians and we often collaborate on patient care and treatment. We provide face time with patients to answer their questions, prescribe medications, and always offer individualized care. We work together with physicians in a team-based approach, so when you see a PA, you are getting a team-based treatment plan,” says Ficken.
According to the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, radiology practices that have hired experienced PAs have found that they bring many useful skills that enhance their overall interventional radiology service.
What is the role of a PA in medical imaging and interventional procedures?
All of CMI & OPR and WIVA’s PAs are properly trained, experienced professionals. In addition to their exceptional patient care, they use state-of-the-art technology, including X-ray, CT, Ultrasound, DEXA, and MRI machines to help diagnose illnesses and diseases in collaboration with their board-certified and fellowship-trained radiologists. A PA is highly versatile and often trained in a wide variety of services and procedures which allows them to step in and provide patient care when needed, yet still refer patients to a specialized physician when necessary.