After reading through some of the comments on the recent post about stagnant md salary/rising mid level salary I figured I would post my experience.
I am practicing at a rural family clinic in a relatively undesirable area (rural SW). In general I see 75% cough/cold acute minor complaints. If there’s a question of what I should do I walk over and speak with the physician. He’ll give advice, look at a picture, or in really significant cases actually step in and take a look at a patient.
I think this type of relationship is really what a mid level should have to practice relatively safe and good medicine. I miss shit. Every once and a while I’ll catch something the physician misses. We respect each other to communicate and understand our relationship is mutually beneficial.
On busy days it may be annoying getting held up for 5-10 minutes to speak about a few patients but he’s never belittling and always willing to help. If I’m needed to do something to help him I make it a point to help out.
This sounds like a lot of extra work for him, but he gets compensated with 50% if whatever productivity bonus. I think that’s fair. Some months he may only get $1000 but there are a handful of months each year he’ll end up with $3000 – $4000.
I wholeheartedly agree mid levels, whether NP or PA, are not prepared to the same level as physicians. I know a lot of really bad mid-levels but I do know quite a few that are competent and responsible.
At the end of the day I’m not the enemy of mid levels or physicians, I try to do as good a job as I can. I’m still learning, fresh out of school I lived on up-to-date for even the most minor issues, I know a little now but I’ll keep having to ask for help and I’m glad I am in a position to do so.
Source: Original link
