Extending Your Physician To Better Care For You
To assist physicians in the care of their patients, The Cardinal Orthopaedic Institute employs seven physician extenders, also known as Nurse Practitioners (NP's) and Physician Assistants (PA's). For more than 40 years these mid-level practitioners have been improving the level of care and speed in which patients are seen. Our PA's and NP can be found performing physical exams, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests, writing prescriptions, and assisting in surgery. In addition to these duties, they assist with weekend call duties, returning important patient calls, providing injections and helping patients prepare for major surgeries by providing one-on-one education.
Our Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistants are each paired with an individual physician. In this setting, the doctor and extender team up to enhance the level of care and knowledge available to the patients while working to meet the needs of our patients in a more effective, timely and personal way. In the absence of your doctor, the mid-level practitioner acts as a representative of the physician. You can be assured that you will receive the same quality care provided by your physician.
If you would like more information about NP's or PA's in general, the following Web sites will lead you to the national associations for each practitioner and provide you complete information on the history, education, training, licensing, and scope of practice for these physician extenders.
- www.aanp.org - Nurse Practitioner
- www.aapa.org - Physician Assistant
| Physician | Physician Extender |
|---|---|
| Robert A. Durbin, M.D. | Erica Bradley, PA-C |
| Derek L. Snook, M.D. | Michael Malfatto, PA-C |
| Kenneth J. Westerheide, M.D. | Tom Hunt, PA-C |
| Joel R. Politi, M.D. | Jen Borger, PA-C |
| Jonathan B. Feibel, M.D. | Natalie Chorey, PA-C |
| Bryan T. Chambers, M.D. | Michael Lewis, NP |
