Our Gastroenterology Fellows work side by side with Advanced Practice Providers in the clinic, hospital and OR settings. Would you have any issues in doing so?
Over the years, there has always been some hesitation for physicians to work alongside APPs in their practice. But the reality is that most large institutions have made the financial decision to employ and use more APPs in practice and your interviewers need to be assured that you are comfortable training in this situation and that you will be a great team player with Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants as you train during Gastroenterology Fellowship.
"During residency training, I got to work very closely with APP staff in the outpatient clinic setting and they were amazing to work with. They greatly improved patient access, which is a benefit to all. They are also very knowledgeable in procedures and can be the second set of eyes in many situations. In the state where I trained for residency, they did not have a full scope of authority, and physicians needed to sign off on any prescriptions they wrote. Can you talk about your state's scope of practice for APP staff and how they operate within the division of gastroenterology here?"
Your answer to this question can be a pretty short and sweet 'no' that you wouldn't have any issues in working closely with APP staff while training during GI Fellowship. To further solidify your response to this question, try to highlight some of the positive aspects that Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants can bring to practice, and don't hesitate to discuss some of the positive interactions and outcomes you were a part of in working with APP staff during your residency training.
Community answers are written by other candidates practicing this set. Reading how others frame the same question is one of the fastest ways to sharpen your own.
Anonymous Answer
I am comfortable working with them. Actually, I have been working with them since my residency. They are very helpful and they can be the second set of eyes in many situations.
Marcie's Feedback
Great! Can you talk more about your experience working with them? If possible, give a more specific example of a time when one helped you. Prove to the interviewer that this situation will work fine for you. Good job!
