Split medicine between physicians and physician assistants.
For routine care, put patients completely under the supervision of physician assistants (PAs). Have PAs act as primary care providers (PCPs). Let HMOs assign patients to PAs rather than physicians. Give PAs autonomous authority to prescribe basic drugs and order and interpret diagnostic tests (laboratory, radiology, etc.).
For complex care, let PAs refer patients to physicians. Physicians would address hospitalizations, surgeries, co-morbidities, speciality care (e.g., oncology), and complicated needs of aging baby-boomer population.
I agree
No opinion
I disagree
Add your comment
Well, PAs and NPs aren't always family practice--they also do specialize. However, I wholeheartedly agree that these "physician extenders" should be recognized and compensated appropriately by insurance providers due to their cost-effectiveness.
Diagnosis could be aided by knowlegable non-doctors, saving expensive physician time. There is a wide variety of quality, as doctors have gaps in the knowledge base -- who has time to know it all?
Just as legal aids contribute mightly to the legal profession, medical research could make better use of researchers.
I can see many drugs could be proscribed by junior physicians, etc. etc. Great idea.
Physicians and PAs are different providers. As a minimum, physicians have 11 years of post secondary education, and PAs have 2 to 4 years post-secondary education, so the knowledge bases are different.
Also, if you are implying that primary care is easy to master, because there isn't specialization, then you are off the mark as well. Having to know the vast scope of all medical conditions, as required by primary care physicians and PAs, and Nurse Practitioners, for that matter, is incredibly difficult. I would want someone with longer education providing my primary care.
Since education and scope of knowledge are different, physicians and PAs should not be compensated in the same way.