PA in healthcare consultanting

Here's an interview with Rachel Miller, a PA who is now a consultant with Deloitte. 


1.       Why did you choose to become a PA?

I wanted to make a difference!  From surgery to preventative medicine, I like working with people to help them become their best selves.  One of the best parts about being a PA is that you really can do it all—work in primary care, transition into surgery, leave your mark as an administrator, professor, or business leader.

2.       What was your experience like at UNTHSC? Any strategies for didactic phase and clinical phase?

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes!  From didactics to clinical phase to extracurriculars, you are there to learn!  Volunteer to try new things, get out of your comfort zone, start a club, make new friends, and ask for help.  All too soon, you will look back and realize what a powerful time these 3 years were in your life—take full advantage of all there is to learn!

3.       You have an interesting first job story. Tell us how you taught the practice what a PA can do. 

All healthcare providers should practice to the maximum of their credentials and training!  That sounds obvious, but in practice, it’s not always the case.  My first job was as a surgical PA, and I had the opportunity to educate the practice on the full capabilities of a PA.  I worked with my supervising physician to design a position (as well as draft standing delegation orders) that allowed me to practice to the full extent of my education and training.  It greatly improved practice operations and even opened up an opportunity for me to operate a small aesthetic dermatology practice underneath the practice umbrella. 

4.       What do you do as a consultant? What would a week look like for you?

Now healthcare companies are my patients!  It seems like a strange metaphor, but I work with a team of business and healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses, pharmacists – I am the only PA…for now!) to assess, diagnose, and fix big problems for healthcare companies.  For example, the CEO of a large hospital or health system might call my company and ask for help in reducing costs or generating new revenue over the next few years.  My team assesses the problem and develops and implements solutions.  As a PA, I keep clinical quality at the forefront, and I get to take the lead in solving clinically-related problems.

Every week is very different—that’s one of the best parts of the job, but here’s a typical example:

Project:  Improve operating margin (by either reducing cost or improving revenue) in large west coast hospital’s spine surgery group, while maintaining or improving clinical quality outcomes.

Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
6am flight to California Internal team meetings	Observe OR cases, prep and turnover procedure Late night work session to compile findings	Review findings with team, analyze data, develop presentations Team dinner Late night work session	Work Session with surgeons & administrators—discuss observation findings and potential solutions Flight home 6pm	Internal team conference calls Evidence-based research Prepare for next week’s meetings

5.       Any advice for future PAs?

Congratulations on choosing one of the best career paths on the planet!  There is so much that you can do as a PA—from practicing in any area of medicine…to advising start-ups… to becoming an administrator or leader of a hospital or health system.  Your knowledge, experience, and passion is powerful, and there is no limit to what you can do!