To be a Great Physician Assistant Focus on Patients not Numbers

Last night, was a late night in the clinic.

It was also a very long day.

If you looked at my "numbers" you may wonder why.

But nothing bothers me more than converting patients into numbers.

It goes against everything I signed up for when I chose to become a physician assistant.

In order to do great, work we must generate revenue. This is what keeps our passion and business afloat.

Money in medicine and its influence on medical decision making will always remain a necessary evil.

Without money, there is no clinic. Without money, the health care we want to provide for our patients cannot be a reality. Without money, we cannot afford to serve those that we aim to help, who in fact may or may not have that which we always seem to need more of; money.

So the gold standard we all strive to achieve is that steady state where we can generate a healthy revenue stream and still run a compassionate, patient-centered practice.

This is a tough balancing act, one that requires constant vigilance.

It requires vigilance because as a business starts to make money it is increasingly easy to obsess about this money and start to focus on the revenue stream.

It is easy to lose focus on what generated this profit  in the first place:

A genuine concern for the consumer (i.e our patient) and their needs. You know the people who drive our business.

I have found myself falling into this trap at times.  And every time I do I see my business suffer. The numbers, of course, start to rise at first and it is easy to believe that this is happening because of my efforts to focus on more revenue.

But, I think most of the time it is just a carry over from the previous period... You know the time when I was focused on my consumers.

The patients, not the numbers!

Stephen Pasquini PA-C Physician Assistant

Stephen has been a family practice PA since 2004 and is the creator of The PA Life, Smarty PANCE Board Review, and PASchoolfinder websites. A National Health Service Corps Scholar and a graduate of The University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ (Rutgers) PA Program and the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. Stephen's goal is to provide one-of-a-kind online resources for those interested in or practicing in the PA profession, to promote better access to healthcare for all, and to foster universal recognition/awareness of the PA profession. Read more about Stephen.

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Hosted by Stephen Pasquini PA-C, Deanna Matzen

About this webinar Are you applying to PA school but worried about writing a compelling personal statement that will grab the admissions committee’s attention? Do you want to learn the secrets of crafting a PA school essay that stands out from the crowd and showcases your personality, motivation, and fit for PA school? ​ If so, then you don’t want to miss our webinar on Crafting Your Best PA School Personal Statement. ​ In this webinar, you will learn the following: What a personal statement is and how schools use them. You will understand the purpose and expectations of writing a personal statement and how schools use this information during the admission process. What to do before you start writing. You will learn how to prepare and organize your thoughts, research, and brainstorm your strengths and achievements. A successful structure for your personal statement. You will learn how to craft a clear, coherent, and compelling narrative that showcases your personality, motivation, and fit for their program. Common mistakes to avoid. You will learn how to polish your personal statement and avoid errors that could undermine your credibility or impact. By joining this webinar, you will gain valuable insights and tips on how to write a personal statement that increases your chances of admission to your desired PA school. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions and get feedback from our experienced PA school coaches. ​ Don’t miss this chance to learn how to write your best PA school personal statement. Register now and secure your spot for this webinar. You won’t regret it! ​

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