Michael Pivato, MPAS, PA-C

Subject matter expert in compensation and pension exams, DBQs, and medical opinions for military veterans. Train examiners nationwide to enhance proficiency and service quality. Provide ongoing support to a nationwide network of LSGS examiners.

• Training team member responsible for onboarding and educating new examiners on the MDE process and LSGS proprietary systems and procedures.
• Provide direct availability of MDE expertise by promptly aiding LSGS Examiners with DBQ challenges ensuring efficient completion.
• Collaborate with team members to optimise diverse skills, fostering enhanced overall knowledge and proficiency.

MDE Senior Medical Examiner

• Perform physical examinations specific to the veteran's claimed disability, including relevant tests and assessments to evaluate the current condition.
• Maintain a respectful approach, clearly explain the purpose of the C&P exam to the veteran, answer questions, and address any concerns they may have.
• Prepare a comprehensive report documenting the examination findings, clinical impressions, and rationale for the assigned disability rating, adhering to VA guidelines.

Coast Guard Medical Officer Air Station Clearwater Medical Clinic

Responsible for providing direct patient care to over 3000 active and reserve Coast Guard personnel in a family practice setting.

• One of only 6 PA's (APA-D) in Coast Guard enterprise credentialed to independently evaluate, treat and clear aviators for Flight Ops.
• Member of Command Leadership Core responsible for developing and implementing medical policy for CG's largest Air Station.
• Obtain detailed medical histories, complete focused physical examinations, and accurately formulate medical diagnoses based on patient history, examination, and diagnostic testing.
• Prescribe medications, institute treatment therapies, and provide referrals to appropriate specialty care providers when medically indicated.
• Order and interpret electrocardiograms, laboratory results, and imaging studies.
• Perform minor surgical procedures to include suturing, incision and drainage, shave/punch/excisional biopsies, toenail removals, and cryotherapy.
• Institute emergency treatment measures and appropriate stabilization measures in situations such as traumatic injury, hemorrhage, shock, cardiac arrest, and other emergent situations.
• Perform quality assurance reviews of patient medical records and manage the clinic quality assurance program.

Senior Lead PA of large Emergency Medical group responsible for all aspects of direct patient care in multiple acute and fast track settings.

• Member of leadership team responsible for interviews, hiring, training, evaluating and staffing PAs in multiple ER facilities.
• Interfaced with multiple specialty medical providers to ensure patients with complicated medical and surgical diagnoses received optimal care.
• Obtained complaint oriented medical histories, performed focused physical examinations, and accurately formulated diagnoses based on the patients presentation, examination and diagnostic testing.
• Independently provide for all ER / Fast Track patients upon initial arrival to the hospital. Responsibilities included performing initial assessment, directing initial interventions, ordering appropriate lab and imaging studies based on differential diagnosis, formulating a treatment / disposition plan and presenting to supervising physician as indicated.
• Performed a variety of urgent interventions without assistance. Including but not limited to simple & complex laceration repair, fracture reduction and splinting, incision and drainage of abscesses, excising thrombosed hemorrhoids, burn debridement, nasal packing, foreign body removal, intubations and chest tubes.

First Physician Assistant hired by and to work for this group in an emergency department.

• Responsible for establishing emergency medicine practice guidelines for PA's working in the emergency department.
• Trained hospital staff on the skill level and utilization of PA's in emergency medicine.
• Worked acute care and fast track services.

Completed extensive training requirements to become a Coast Guard Helicopter Rescue Swimmer.

• Advanced to qualification of Flight Paramedic.
• Flew as solo medic responsible for deploying from helicopter, recovering, preparing, hoisting, evaluating and treating injured survivors during MEDEVACS on the high seas.
• Senior air station medical training officer.