STAFFING
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to hire their own SFAs. There are definite advantages to doing so, but
larger services (
intralign.com
, for example) let surgeons pick and
choose among several SFAs who are expert in different clinical areas
and have different working styles. I team with SFAs who are very effi-
cient and very fast, but not every physician is interested in working at
that pace. Services can provide SFAs that match surgeons' clinical
requirements.
I've worked with 16 different service-provided SFAs — nearly all
have been physician assistants — since 2009. They have expertise in
a wide variety of specialties, so I'm able to work with someone
who's trained in the specific cases I perform. If I were to hire SFAs
on my own, it's highly unlikely they'd have the versatility to meet my
various clinical needs.
Surgeons without the significant volume needed to pay for an SFA
on their own can partner with a service and still enjoy the benefits.
And even if surgeons have the volume to pay for a personal SFA who
might be expert is several facets of their practice, it's doubtful they'll
end up with an assistant who'll be able to cover every procedure they
perform. Plus, if surgeons work with someone from a service who's
not a good match, they can easily find a better fit. In contrast, sur-
geons who hire SFAs on their own might end up in an endless cycle of
hiring and firing until they find the perfect partner. OSM
Dr. Murphy (
emurphy@suncoastmed.com
) is a board-certified general and
vascular surgeon at the Suncoast Medical Clinic in Tampa, Fla.
