You Said

MGMA Connexion, Jul 2004

PAs not always profitable

I just read the article on using physician assistants (PAs) in cardiothoracic surgery (June 8, 2004 MGMA e-Connexion with specialty focus on cardiology and cardiovascular surgery). I am the administrator for a seven-surgeon cardiothoracic surgery group. Over the past three years we have reduced the number of physician assistants we employ. At one point we had five PAs; we are now down to three and do not plan to open any future positions.

We have had physician assistants in the practice since the mid 1980s and have not hired any in recent years because the revenue they generate does not cover their expenses.

The article states that the PAs generate revenue, but I was wondering if they generate any profit for the organization described. Most of the cardiothoracic administrators I have talked with are trying to find ways to get their physician assistant services to a break-even point. I would be interested to know if CTVS or other cardiac surgery groups are providing profitable physician assistant services.

Thomas M. Miller

Roanoke, Va.

tmiller@cvsainc.com

Manual can ease growing pains

I found the article "By the book: Lessons learned from developing a physician-owners' manual" (May-June 2004 MGMA Connexion) to be timely and informative. Our practice has occasionally experienced harsh growing pains because new staff members assume that our policies are similar to the group they have left. By presenting this overview of concerns to address in a physician-owner policy manual, we have discovered areas where we can update and/or expand our current policies to improve communications and operations. The suggested checklist for approving policies will doubtless save us some headaches.

John J. Monogue

Phoenix

jjmonogue@aol.com