Patrick, what have you heard about the possibility that other types of medical practitioners -- such as physicians assistants and nurse practitioners -- at least making up some of those numbers. My two oldest sons are both entering into some sort of nursing programs, which seem to be growing like crazy around here.
Not saying that the situation is good, but that there seems to be some possibility that what the government taketh away, the marketplace rusheth to filleth in.
I agree both PA and nurses are valuable in and of themselves as well as in the current and future healthcare sector. They're each fine professions and definitely needed in increasing numbers almost everywhere around the US.
But I don't know that they can make up for the shortfall in physicians since, I think, this shortfall isn't solely limited to primary care physicians. Although primary care physicians are the most needed.
There's both a knowledge/experience side and a legal side here. Legally speaking, a PA or nurse simply isn't allowed to perform a lot of what even a general practitioner or family medicine doctor is allowed let alone other specialties.
Knowledge/experience would obviously vary depending on the individual doctor, PA, or nurse. I think it's possible an individual PA or nurse knows more medical science and clinical medicine than an individual doctor. But on the whole I'd think doctors have a wider breadth as well as depth of medical and clinical knowledge and experience. I'd think this is more true as one specializes or subspecializes. In other words, I'd think it might be easier for a PA or nurse to learn and do a lot of the work that a primary care physician does, but I'd think it'd be considerably harder for them to learn and do the work of, say, a cardiologist, gastroenterologist, radiologist, or neurologist (assuming no legal impediments which of course is not at all the case in our society). So, at least as I understand at this point, there's some legitimate fear from primary care physicians (e.g. family medicine) that PAs might begin to take away some of their work. But I don't know that specialists have all that much to worry about from PAs, at least not directly.
... but I'd think it'd be considerably harder for them to learn and do the work of, say, a cardiologist, gastroenterologist, radiologist, or neurologist ...
Patrick, what have you heard about the possibility that other types of medical practitioners -- such as physicians assistants and nurse practitioners -- at least making up some of those numbers. My two oldest sons are both entering into some sort of nursing programs, which seem to be growing like crazy around here.
ReplyDeleteNot saying that the situation is good, but that there seems to be some possibility that what the government taketh away, the marketplace rusheth to filleth in.
Hey, John!
ReplyDeleteI agree both PA and nurses are valuable in and of themselves as well as in the current and future healthcare sector. They're each fine professions and definitely needed in increasing numbers almost everywhere around the US.
But I don't know that they can make up for the shortfall in physicians since, I think, this shortfall isn't solely limited to primary care physicians. Although primary care physicians are the most needed.
There's both a knowledge/experience side and a legal side here. Legally speaking, a PA or nurse simply isn't allowed to perform a lot of what even a general practitioner or family medicine doctor is allowed let alone other specialties.
Knowledge/experience would obviously vary depending on the individual doctor, PA, or nurse. I think it's possible an individual PA or nurse knows more medical science and clinical medicine than an individual doctor. But on the whole I'd think doctors have a wider breadth as well as depth of medical and clinical knowledge and experience. I'd think this is more true as one specializes or subspecializes. In other words, I'd think it might be easier for a PA or nurse to learn and do a lot of the work that a primary care physician does, but I'd think it'd be considerably harder for them to learn and do the work of, say, a cardiologist, gastroenterologist, radiologist, or neurologist (assuming no legal impediments which of course is not at all the case in our society). So, at least as I understand at this point, there's some legitimate fear from primary care physicians (e.g. family medicine) that PAs might begin to take away some of their work. But I don't know that specialists have all that much to worry about from PAs, at least not directly.
Anyway, just my two cents' worth, that's all.
Thanks Patrick.
ReplyDelete... but I'd think it'd be considerably harder for them to learn and do the work of, say, a cardiologist, gastroenterologist, radiologist, or neurologist ...
I'd definitely see this as a negative.