Engage Estero Safety Council is made of volunteers serving as a voice for the citizens of greater Estero on safety and transportation priorities and issues. We advocate for related solutions to Village, County, and State Government organizations.
Road Safety in Greater Estero By Contributing Author, Mark Novitski, and Engage Estero Consultant. Everyone has their definition of what determines road safety or, conversely, what makes our roads unsafe. In writing extensively about Corkscrew Road, I have...
Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comprtroller Kevin Karnes is now offering an alert notification system for Lee County property owners to reduce fraud. When you sign-up, if a deed, mortgage, or other non-Court official record is recorded in your name, you will be...
Engage Estero Environment Council is a volunteer group focusing on improving water and air quality and mitigating and eliminating the effects of climate warming in greater Estero.
During the weekend of April 6th, Engage Estero’s team of volunteers, organized by Julie Yellig, collected 360 pounds of bagged litter. A total of 2.2 tons of litter has been collected since the end of April 2023 (the end of last season), and an astonishing 10 tons...
by Mark Novitski, Consultant to Engage Estero. Mia McCormick, Advocate, Environment Florida, identifies why we need wildlife crossings: “Each year, animals at risk of extinction die when cars and creatures collide on Florida roadways. It is the number one cause of...
Engage Estero Community Health Council comprises health* and safety-minded volunteers who think about community health comprehensively with a common desire to improve the overall health of the citizens of greater Estero.
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The facts Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming more than 300,000 lives annually. Approximately 95 percent of SCA victims die before they reach a hospital or receive medical attention. How Can We Help Reduce This...
Engage Estero mobilizes volunteers in our schools, sponsors scholarships, and promotes the involvement of the community through announcements and public forums.
By Mike Wasson, Director, Engage Estero The Village of Estero Council issued a Proclamation its Meeting on Wednesday, March 6th honoring 39 Estero High School Students who were presented the Cambridge Outstanding Learners Awards. In his remarks, Jon McLain, Village of...
The Future Plans for our Schools and Students' Education in Greater EsteroBrought to you by the Engage Estero Education Councilby Mark Novitski, Consultant to Engage EsteroPrincipal Leslie Gunderson in her office at Pinewoods Elementary School behind a table full of...
Engage Estero believes the best way to get a community involved is to make sure they are aware of the issues impacting their future, and know how to impact those decisions before they are made. We conduct and publish original research and articles aimed at getting residents Engaged.
When patients call to make an appointment with their doctor, they are often told they can see a physician assistant or nurse practitioner. Many patients wonder what experience these healthcare professionals have and if they can trust their judgment. There are many residents who are unsure about the function and expertise of these individuals. The Engage Estero Healthcare Council team felt it would be important to address these questions and reached out to Lee Health to shed light on this issue.
When you are sick, you want to see your primary care physician – an M.D. or a D.O. – in a timely fashion. But an influx of patients, a looming shortage of physicians, and other factors mean that doesn’t always happen.
That’s why you might have noticed more health professionals with abbreviations like PA and APRN on their jackets when you visit the doctor’s office, emergency room, urgent care center, or outpatient clinic.
But who are they, how are they trained, and what do they do? Let’s find out.
Education, Experience
The first thing to remember: A PA (Physician Assistant) and an APRN (Advanced Practice Registered Nurse) have the expertise to examine patients, order tests, prescribe medication, and provide education.
And the other big point to remember: PAs and APRNs work under a doctor’s supervision, and they consult with an M.D. or D.O. to sign off on care plans and prescriptions.
Education and clinical training for PAs and APRNs differ slightly. Advanced practice registered nurses hold master’s degrees and many have doctorates. Physician assistants must have a master’s degree, have completed a physician assistant program, and received PA certification through the National Commission of Physician Assistants. The state of Florida licenses both PAs and APRNS.
They help doctors with a concept called team-based care, where patients have access to a doctor’s entire team and network — nurses, medical assistants, social workers, customer service specialists, physician specialists, and more.
This approach works. Studies show that patients treated by their doctors in a team-based practice had fewer hospitalizations, visits to emergency departments, and referrals to specialists.
“Under the physician’s supervision and consultation, an advanced practice provider such as an APRN or PA can provide the same kind of patient care as your primary doctor,” said Joseph Hobson, D.O., a recently retired board-certified family medicine physician with Lee Physician Group. “These highly trained and experienced providers work in close consultation with the doctor, who still maintains responsibility for the healthcare team and your comprehensive, ongoing healthcare.”
Dolan Abu Aouf, a physician assistant with Lee Physician Group, (LINK) says PAs and APRNs are dedicated to patient care, and they work with your doctor to help you establish a great care relationship with your doctor.
“Our goal is that each patient receives the same level of exceptional quality care,” Dolan says. “We also have immediate access to any of our LPG physicians if any issue comes up. This is what the team approach is about, working together as a cohesive team to treat the patient all along the continuum of care. It works.”
How are PAs educated?
How are APRNs educated?
Hopefully by now you will appreciate that the answer to the question posed at the beginning of this article is an unequivocal “yes!”
The Engage Estero team thanks Lee Health for the above information and also thanks all healthcare personnel for the dedication and commitment to our wellbeing.
