October 6-12th National PA Week
Plano Orthopedic Sports Medicine & Spine Center, Heather Gehrke, PA-C talks about why she became a Certified Physician Assistant, what she loves about it and more. POSMC is proud to support National PA Week and proud of all our Certified Physician Assistants.
Heather Gehrke, PA-C works with Stephen P. Courtney, M.D. at POSMC, to learn more about Heather visit http://www.posmc.com/physician-assistants/heather-gehrke-pa-c/
Heather’s Q&A to Celebrate the Importance of National PA Week.
1. What made you want to be a PA?
I always knew medicine was the route for me. However,
I did not want the pressure, and sometimes long detroit lions Jersey suh hours
of a physician. I knew I wanted a family, and I felt that I couldn’t be as dedicated with the lack of flexibility physicians often experience.
2. What do you love about your job?
I love that it is rewarding; it’s not always about the money. When someone who really needs my help gets better: that’s what it’s all about. When I see someone, getting them back to 100% is amazing. I’m in orthopedic spine, and my patients often cannot walk. Seeing them pain free six weeks later is great.
3. What are the struggles that you face as a PA?
The changes in healthcare have decreased access for our older population which is massive. It breaks my heart to know that baby boomers cannot get the care they need because practices are seeing less and less government-backed healthcare plans because reimbursements are deplorable.
4. How do you see your role changing?
I am BUSY, and our scope of practice is maximized.
5. What is one thing that you would want people to know about the PA profession?
For all of the challenges, they are far outweighed by the rewards of being a healthcare provider, and the personal and professional rewards associated. I will add that if I had to choose and train all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing. This is something I believe some physicians do not feel the same about.
6. What trends do you see on the horizon that will impact the PA profession?
Because of the increasing demand for all types of clinicians, PAs included, sometimes I feel like the rush to remediate clinician shortage impacts the quality of practitioners.
Thanks to Merritt Hawkins for capturing the importance of Certified Physician Assistants and talking POSMC’s Heather Gehrke, PA-C to Dr. Stephen Courtney. To hear from other Certified Physician Assistants click the link, http://www.merritthawkins.com/candidates/BlogPostDetail.aspx?PostId=40735