Appointment confirmed but with NP again

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
Day_Dreamer
Posts: 286
Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2014 1:19 pm

Appointment confirmed but with NP again

Post by Day_Dreamer » Tue Jul 22, 2014 9:46 am

Hi

I am not sure if this is the industry norm but my second appointment with sleep center is with an NP

I was directed to this Dr from this web site

It is my 2 follow up and it is with the NP again

Is it normal to be seen by an NP for follow ups?

She is very nice but I get the impression she is a new graduate.

THANKS!!

User avatar
49er
Posts: 5624
Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2012 8:18 am

Re: Appointment confirmed but wuth NP again

Post by 49er » Tue Jul 22, 2014 9:55 am

Day_Dreamer wrote:Hi

I am not sure if this is the industry norm but my second appointment with sleep center is with an NP

I was directed to this Dr from this web site

It is my 2 follow up and it is with the NP again

Is it normal to be seen by an NP for follow ups?

She is very nice but I get the impression she is a new graduate.

THANKS!!
I am not sure whether this practice is normal but I know one local sleep doctor who engages in this practice. Whether this is good or bad, depends on various factors. Many times, the NP knows more than the sleep doctor so it might be to someone's advantage to see this particular professional. On the other hand, someone in your situation might be at a disadvantage seeing an NP who is a new graduate.

What was your experience like seeing this NP previously? If you weren't happy, is there any way you could diplomatically call the office and ask to see the doctor?

Best of luck.

49er

User avatar
Denial Dave
Posts: 1335
Joined: Wed Sep 19, 2012 6:45 am
Location: Connecticut

Re: Appointment confirmed but with NP again

Post by Denial Dave » Tue Jul 22, 2014 10:04 am

just prior to my last appointment, I got a call that the DR was not going to be in the office that day. Would it be acceptable for me to meet with the NP?

Since I was not having any issues or had any pressing questions, I had no issues with meeting with the NP.

She was very open and enjoyed discussing my reasoning for my latest pressure changes since the last visit. She was impressed by my knowledge & my forethought that went into the changes!

She also gave me some helpful tips for moving from straight Bi-pap to Auto on my machine.

Dave

_________________
Mask: Mirage Quattro™ Full Face CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: Started at VPAP pressure setting of 20/14.4. I've survived Stage 1 cancer and lost 80+ lbs. Pressure is now 14.5 / 11
if you don't know where you are going... any road will take you there.... George Harrison

Day_Dreamer
Posts: 286
Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2014 1:19 pm

Re: Appointment confirmed but wuth NP again

Post by Day_Dreamer » Tue Jul 22, 2014 10:07 am

49er wrote:
Day_Dreamer wrote:Hi

I am not sure if this is the industry norm but my second appointment with sleep center is with an NP

I was directed to this Dr from this web site

It is my 2 follow up and it is with the NP again

Is it normal to be seen by an NP for follow ups?

She is very nice but I get the impression she is a new graduate.

THANKS!!
I am not sure whether this practice is normal but I know one local sleep doctor who engages in this practice. Whether this is good or bad, depends on various factors. Many times, the NP knows more than the sleep doctor so it might be to someone's advantage to see this particular professional. On the other hand, someone in your situation might be at a disadvantage seeing an NP who is a new graduate.

What was your experience like seeing this NP previously? If you weren't happy, is there any way you could diplomatically call the office and ask to see the doctor?

Best of luck.

49er

she was nice enough but I could tell she was new and fresh out of school. I corrected her a few times as I had been reading these threads and felt knowledgeable about my situation. Our first meeting together was with the DR and he corrected her a few times too.....

User avatar
JustTia
Posts: 108
Joined: Wed Jul 02, 2014 7:35 pm
Location: Winston Salem, NC

Re: Appointment confirmed but with NP again

Post by JustTia » Tue Jul 22, 2014 10:09 am

My follow-up care is also being done by a NP. I'm ok with it. But if you aren't ok with it, let the doctor (or the scheduler) know. I know that I was asked if I was ok with seeing the NP, so at least at my practice there is an option. Don't know if that's the case with yours, but it couldn't hurt to ask.

_________________
Mask: Swift™ FX For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Humidifier: S9™ Series H5i™ Heated Humidifier with Climate Control
Additional Comments: S9 set to auto, pressure 5-15, Premier style chin strap
Board culture. Learn it. Embrace it.

Day_Dreamer
Posts: 286
Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2014 1:19 pm

Re: Appointment confirmed but with NP again

Post by Day_Dreamer » Tue Jul 22, 2014 10:12 am

Denial Dave wrote:just prior to my last appointment, I got a call that the DR was not going to be in the office that day. Would it be acceptable for me to meet with the NP?

Since I was not having any issues or had any pressing questions, I had no issues with meeting with the NP.

She was very open and enjoyed discussing my reasoning for my latest pressure changes since the last visit. She was impressed by my knowledge & my forethought that went into the changes!

She also gave me some helpful tips for moving from straight Bi-pap to Auto on my machine.

Dave

Dave that would be acceptable but I made my appointment with the DR and the last two times he's not even in the office that day. I never completed an in lab sleep test (just HST). I wonder if that's why?

User avatar
49er
Posts: 5624
Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2012 8:18 am

Re: Appointment confirmed but wuth NP again

Post by 49er » Tue Jul 22, 2014 10:14 am

Day_Dreamer wrote:
49er wrote:
Day_Dreamer wrote:Hi

I am not sure if this is the industry norm but my second appointment with sleep center is with an NP

I was directed to this Dr from this web site

It is my 2 follow up and it is with the NP again

Is it normal to be seen by an NP for follow ups?

She is very nice but I get the impression she is a new graduate.

THANKS!!
I am not sure whether this practice is normal but I know one local sleep doctor who engages in this practice. Whether this is good or bad, depends on various factors. Many times, the NP knows more than the sleep doctor so it might be to someone's advantage to see this particular professional. On the other hand, someone in your situation might be at a disadvantage seeing an NP who is a new graduate.

What was your experience like seeing this NP previously? If you weren't happy, is there any way you could diplomatically call the office and ask to see the doctor?

Best of luck.

49er

she was nice enough but I could tell she was new and fresh out of school. I corrected her a few times as I had been reading these threads and felt knowledgeable about my situation. Our first meeting together was with the DR and he corrected her a few times too.....
Hmm, it sounds like you might want to call the office and diplomatically ask if you can see the doctor. Would it work to state you have concerns that you feel only he can address?

They might try to say that the NP is qualified but then I would respond by saying something like "I understand what you are saying but I would still feel more comfortable seeing the doctor." I just hope you're not dealing with a situation like with this local office I mentioned in which it sounds like all followups are done with the NP and the patient has no option whatsoever to see the doctor.

49er

Day_Dreamer
Posts: 286
Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2014 1:19 pm

Re: Appointment confirmed but with NP again

Post by Day_Dreamer » Tue Jul 22, 2014 1:25 pm

I just called and asked what the procedure was regarding having an appointment with the Doctor and getting the NP

Response " Well she is leaving on Aug 1st so you'll need to see the doctor for your next appointment" Ahhh ok should I just make an appointment with the Dr. Barronne now?

Response His next appointment is at the end of Sept

I just put a call in with Dr. Stephen Park. ( I hear good thing about him....). The way thing are going it won't be until 2016 and I'll be breaking in his new NP

User avatar
Jay Aitchsee
Posts: 2936
Joined: Sun May 22, 2011 12:47 pm
Location: Southwest Florida

Re: Appointment confirmed but with NP again

Post by Jay Aitchsee » Tue Jul 22, 2014 9:15 pm

I think I'm starting to prefer NPs. I'm currently seeing four for routine/followup visits (Derm, Cardio, Sleep, and GP). All seem professional, knowledgeable, competent, and caring. And, they seem to be willing to spend the extra time, if required, to ensure all issues or concerns are adequately covered. Much more so than most regular doctors I've seen.

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: S9 Auto, P10 mask, P=7.0, EPR3, ResScan 5.3, SleepyHead V1.B2, Windows 10, ZEO, CMS50F, Infrared Video

User avatar
chunkyfrog
Posts: 34377
Joined: Mon Jul 12, 2010 5:10 pm
Location: Nebraska--I am sworn to keep the secret of this paradise.

Re: Appointment confirmed but with NP again

Post by chunkyfrog » Tue Jul 22, 2014 9:31 pm

Since my case is uncomplicated, it doesn't really matter to me who I see;
but after I let the PA field one visit, the doctor doesn't want to miss another visit with me.
It must be my data. --or my sparkling personality?

_________________
Mask: AirFit™ P10 For Her Nasal Pillow CPAP Mask with Headgear
Additional Comments: Airsense 10 Autoset for Her

User avatar
49er
Posts: 5624
Joined: Mon Jan 16, 2012 8:18 am

Re: Appointment confirmed but with NP again

Post by 49er » Wed Jul 23, 2014 4:11 am

None of the sleep medicine doctors I saw had the option to seen an NP. One of them did have a PA and I always wondered if I should have given this person a shot. I think I didn't because the office was very hard to get to via public transportation.

Jay, I am not surprised by your experiences and if I had the opportunity in the future to be seen by an NP, I would certainly be open to it. It just seemed that in this case with Day Dreamer, since the NP was a new graduate whose knowledge seemed to be lacking, that this wasn't a good option.

49er

User avatar
Tailgate
Posts: 9
Joined: Fri Jul 18, 2014 8:27 am
Location: Texas

Re: Appointment confirmed but with NP again

Post by Tailgate » Wed Jul 23, 2014 9:34 am

My first appt and followup was with an NP. She knew her stuff. The sleep study (ambulatory, in-home) was read by the DR though.

Day_Dreamer
Posts: 286
Joined: Tue Apr 01, 2014 1:19 pm

Re: Appointment confirmed but with NP again

Post by Day_Dreamer » Wed Jul 23, 2014 3:15 pm

I made an appointment with Dr. Stephen Park. It is in 12 days

Thinking of canceling tomorrow with NP