Health Break: Get to know your health care team

Camille: Welcome to Health Break by UPMC Health Plan, your quick guide to health, wellness, and how to make the most of your health insurance plan. I’m your host, Dr. Camille Clarke-Smith. This is your…Health Break. When you think about getting care, you probably think of your doctor first, right? But did you know there are other providers who can see you just like your doctor—and often with more availability? 

 

In this “Health Break,” Dr. Bob Rutkowski joins us to talk about your care team and the role of nurse practitioners (or NPs) and physician assistants (also known as PAs). 

We’ll discuss why you can trust them, how they fit into your overall care, and how they can help you get the same quality care you need, sooner. 

Welcome back, Dr. Bob, to today’s “Health Break.”

Bob: Thanks, Camille. It’s great to be back.

Camille: So let’s jump right into the questions. Can you tell us more about who is part of a typical care team at a provider’s office?

Bob: So Camille, I really consider anybody who interacts with the patient in the office to be part of the care team. That could be our front staff, the nursing staff, or any of the provider staff.

But as far as the provider care team, that can include your doctor (and many people think of that first when they’re thinking about scheduling an appointment or going to the office), but there are also nurse practitioners, like you said, physician’s assistants, and then specialists that really help provide care for our patients. We all work together to provide the best care possible.

My experience with nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants dates back to my training, so about 30 years’ worth of experience with these highly trained medical professionals really being an integral part of the care team. And actually, in my training, they helped to sort of facilitate my professional development.

Camille: Interesting. So what do NPs and PAs do and how are they different from doctors?

Bob: Well, let’s start out talking about how they are the same. They actually can diagnose, treat, and manage chronic medical conditions. They can prescribe medicines. And they also can function as your primary care provider, doing preventative care just like your doctor. They’re trained to provide comprehensive care. They work very closely with doctors to ensure continuity. In my clinical practice, we work side by side seeing patients.

The main difference is the educational path. Physicians go to medical school, whereas nurse practitioners pursue their advanced degree through a different educational process where they have both academic coursework that’s very intensive and then extensive clinical training.

Camille: So, like you said, highly trained medical professionals. Can you share more about how does have an MPs and peers as a part of the care team help patients get seen sooner?

Bob: Sure. Well, the first thing we need to talk about is seeing a NP or PA doesn’t really mean lower-quality care. That the NPs and PAs, like I said, are highly trained medical professionals.

Some potential benefits of seeing an NP or PA is that they may have a shorter waiting time to be seen. Physicians tend to be more heavily scheduled. So the PAs and NPs can provide a shorter waiting time compared to those members who are patients who see exclusively a physician. They often have more availability for walk-ins and same-day appointments. And also, a lot of them are very highly engaged in telehealth options that can make it easier for families who have access issues or who are busy and on the go to actually be seen by a video visit.

So on a personal note, my daughter had a very long, established relationship with a physician assistant in my office—so much so that she saw her all the way through her college graduation in August, and it was a sad time for the family and for my daughter, especially, to have to leave her primary care provider, her physician assistant that she identified with.

Camille: Wow. When a physician approves a physician assistant, you know it’s great.

Well, thank you so much, Dr. Bob, for joining us on today’s “Health Break” and teaching us more about the roles of NPs and physician assistants.

Bob: Thank you.

Camille: Next time you need an appointment, don’t wait—ask if a nurse practitioner or physician assistant can see you. They’re trained medical professionals who can help with everything from check-ups to prescriptions.

Call your doctor’s office or use the UPMC Find Care tool at findcare.upmchealthplan.com to schedule your visit today. 

Find show notes and more information at upmchealthplan.com/podcast. Join us as we continue exploring health, wellness, and how to make the most of your health insurance plan in the next episode of Health Break. This podcast is for informational and educational purposes. It is not medical care or advice. Individuals in need of medical care should consult their personal care provider. Views and opinions expressed by the hosts and guests are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of UPMC Health Plan and its employees.