Scott Webb (Host): Today on the Health Works Here
podcast, we're going to meet Physician Assistant Nnenna Onyemauwa. She's going
to share some of the benefits for patients in choosing a Physician Assistant
for primary care, why she became a Physician Assistant, and so much more.

 This is the Health Works
Here podcast from Emerson Health. I'm Scott Webb.

Host: It's lovely to have you here. I love when Emerson
does these, when we get to know doctors and nurses. So that's essentially what
we're going to do today. And as we get rolling here, I just want to ask you,
who becomes a Physician Assistant? Like, why do they do that? Why do they
choose that route? And maybe you can talk a little bit about your background as
well.

Nnenna Onyemauwa, PA-C: An easy explanation is Physician
Assistant is a mid-level medical provider who practices medicine under a
collaborative agreement with a supervising physician. Right. But to understand
the profession, I would like to talk a little bit about the history, of the
profession. Cause PA's, Physician Assistants, have been around for a really
long time. The first class of Physician Assistants graduated in 1967.

So back in the 1960s there was a shortage of Primary Care
Providers. And so a doctor at Duke University at the time, decided to start the
Physician Assistant program. So he was looking for a way to remedy the shortage
of physicians. And so, first to explain how he came about that. He was very
familiar with the fast track training of physicians back in World War II.

And so he based his curriculum on that fast track training. And
so, after a couple of years, the Physician Assistant profession got federal
acceptance and backing. It was seen as a creative way to help remedy the
shortage of physicians. And, just like that the Physician Assistant profession
was born, right.

Looking today though, the role has definitely expanded. You
don't only see Physician Assistants in primary care. You do see Physician
Assistants in pretty much every major field of medicine, like, cardiology,
orthopedic surgery, obstetrics and gynecology. It's really expanded. Now, most
universities have also started offering it. It's a master's program. And so
that means you have to have a bachelor's program to apply for it. You also need
to have a lot of clinical hours. So, to answer one of your questions earlier,
you would see people who already have a medical background so a lot of
paramedics, for instance eventually apply to get into Physician Assistant
school and it is a two part program, usually ranging from two to three years,
depending on what university. The first part is a very tedious didactic year.
Yeah. So you're having classes from six to eight hours every single day for 12
to 18 months.

And if you make it through the didactic year, then you move on
to the second part of the program, which is the clinical year. At this point
you rotate through every major medical field. After each rotation, you sit for
an exam, and once you conclude this process, right, then you sit for a national
board exam.

 If you pass the board
exam, then you're certified. Keep in mind this board exam is repeated every 10
years, so if you are a Physician Assistant every 10 years, you have to sit for
another board exam. After the board exam, you're certified, then you need to
get a license for the states that you're going to practice in.

Licensing is different with each state, but one thing that you
have to do to maintain your license, no matter what state you're in, is a
hundred hours of continued medical education every other year. So you can say
you never stop studying. We do about the same thing as doctors do, right? We
see our own patients. We diagnose and treat illnesses. We prescribe
medications. PAs in surgery, assist in surgery, even PAs in primary care, we do
minor procedures in the office.

And, even though we might do about the same thing as doctors,
we don't have the same autonomy as doctors do, right? To practice in the United
States as a Physician Assistant, you have to collaborate with a supervising
physician.

Host: Well, it's so great to sort of understand the
history of all of this and as I think a lot of, you know, patients, perspective
patients, we have these questions, right? We hear that we're going to be seeing
a Physician Assistant and we think, well, is she a nurse, is she a doctor? So
it's sort of somewhere in the middle. But I'm sure for some patients there are
a lot of benefits. So maybe you can talk about the benefits of having a PA as
your primary care provider.

Nnenna Onyemauwa, PA-C: So I have been a Physician
Assistant for 10 years and so, I have definitely met a lot of patients and I
would base this answer on the feedback that I've gotten from patients. Right?
And when I think of the feedback, I can think of a couple of things that I've
heard a lot from patients.

One would be availability, right? Mid-level providers tend to
have less patients on their panel, and so naturally we have a more flexible
schedule. And so, there are patients who only want to see their primary care
provider, whether it's an acute visit or anything, they just want to see their
PCP. And so, such patients definitely appreciate the fact that, you know,
there's always an available appointment if they need to get seen for something
like a urinary tract infection, for instance and easily get in. So that's one.
Another thing that I've probably heard a lot from patients would be time spent
with patients.

 Once again, this is most
likely because we have less patients on a panel as mid-level providers. And so
naturally we have more time to spend with the patients. A lot of doctors also
have a lot of administrative work that they're involved with, which PAs are not
involved with. And so that also gives us more time. And, patients appreciate
having the time to ask all of their questions and, spending time, explaining
the diagnosis and treatment plan, they definitely appreciate that. So, those
are a couple of things I can think of. And so I guess I can actually agree with
some of those feedbacks that I've gotten from patients. Cause currently my PCP
is a Physician Assistant. Yeah.

Host: Yeah, I have to remind myself sometimes that
doctors and nurses are patients too, right? also have to see someone, so, we're
talking to a PA today, who has a PA for your primary care. I mean, that's kind
of perfect. Wondering, what are some of your specialty areas? What are some of
the things you see the most or like to treat the most if PAs even really think
like that. Like, oh, I love it when these come in.

Nnenna Onyemauwa, PA-C: Yes, and I'll actually talk
about something that I'm really getting more and more interested in. So I am an
Internal Medicine PA and so I specialize in adult medicine, right? And so most
of what I focus on is solving diagnostic problems, managing severe long-term
illnesses and helping patients with complex chronic conditions. Conditions like
heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, pulmonary illnesses and obesity. Right?
And, talking about obesity, I'm getting very interested in obesity management,
um, now, obesity can complicate a lot of these chronic illnesses. I am
currently getting certified. I'm doing a training to get certified in obesity
management, and I'm excited about this because, you know, as primary care
providers, we always recommend to our patients to lose weight, you know, to
help with a lot of their medical conditions, but we don't necessarily give them
the tools to help them lose the weight.

Host: Right. How do we do that? Exactly, right.

Nnenna Onyemauwa, PA-C: So that's one thing that I'm
getting from this training. I am excited to be able to not just tell my
patients to lose weight, but also actually offer them the tools to help them
lose the weight. So, I'll be opening up slots on my schedule for obesity
management once I'm done with this certification and I'm looking forward to
that.

Host: It is so funny you say that cause my doctor every
time, says, you know, maybe you could lose a few pounds. And I say, you're
right, doctor. I absolutely, said, hi, I am wearing the same pants size that I
was when I was like 18. They're a little tighter than they used to be, but
you're so right. Having that extra time because you are a PA to really talk
about this and develop strategies. So I just wanted to backtrack just a little
bit and talk a little bit more about why you specifically became a PA. Like why
was this a good fit for you?

Nnenna Onyemauwa, PA-C: Yeah. Well, I would say I've
always wanted to practice medicine, right? But at the same time, I've always
wanted something that would give me that work life balance. And, when it became
time to choose a profession, you know, I looked into all of that and the
Physician Assistant profession definitely offers me that. I'm able to do what I
love doing, and also able to spend time with my family. I have a husband and
two teenage boys, I love my job. And I do get quality family time, too. So, uh,
that's really the reason why I went with the Physician Assistant profession.

Host: Yeah, I can see that, as we were talking about
benefits for patients, also benefits for you. And one of them, as you
mentioned, was you don't have the same administrative responsibilities that the
doctor might have, that the physician might have, which allows you to go home
and spend time with your husband and your kids. I love that. So, besides our
podcast today, which I'm sure is going to turn out amazing, you know, so far so
good, how can patients get to know you? I imagine some patients more than
others want to sort of vet their PA or their doctor. So how can they do that?
How are you doing that at Emerson Health?

Nnenna Onyemauwa, PA-C: Actually Emerson does offer
that. We actually encourage that. So, uh, we call it a meet and greet, right?
So, give, yeah. We give patients the opportunity to get to meet their primary
care provider before getting established. And so of course a lot of patients
don't care. They're patients who are like, I just want to come in for my
appointment,

 for patients who want to
get to meet their PCP first, we do offer that opportunity at no cost to the
patient. It can be scheduled as a Telehealth visit or an inpatient visit,
usually 10 to 15 minutes. The patient gets to ask questions and see if they
vibe with the primary care provider before

Host: That's a good word. I, I love that. I was going to
use the word trust, but I love just seeing if we vibe with Nnenna, right?

Nnenna Onyemauwa, PA-C: Yes, yes, I've heard that exact
word from a patient. Yeah, that's why I choose to use it.

Host: Yeah. I love it. That's so great. If patients are
interested, obviously in maybe scheduling something to get to know you or to
just make an appointment cause they love you so much already, uh, how can they
get ahold of you? How can they reach you?

Nnenna Onyemauwa, PA-C: Yeah, well that's easy. They
just have to call my office. Like I said, I'm a Physician Assistant at Emerson
Primary care of Bedford, right? Phone number is (339) 215-5100. So they call,
talk to my front office staff and just let them know you want to schedule an
appointment with Nnenna Onyemauwa, right?

Host: Yes. Onyemauwa, right.

Nnenna Onyemauwa, PA-C: Yeah. And if the name is too
tough, just say, I want to schedule an appointment with the Physician
Assistant. Um, yeah, we have six providers, three physicians, two Nurse
Practitioners, and one Physician Assistant. And that would be me.

Host: And that be you. Well, it's been so lovely to meet
you today. Learn more about you, learn more about what Physician Assistants do,
how they do it, why they love their jobs, all of that good stuff. once again,
that number is 339-215-5100. And to learn more or make an appointment with
Nnenna or other providers at Emerson Health Primary Care, Bedford 339-215-5100.

And thanks for listening to Emerson's Health Works here
podcast. I'm Scott Webb. And make sure to catch the next episode by subscribing
to the Health Works Here podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, or wherever
podcasts can be heard.