NYT physician shortage article: PAs - go big or go, where now?

[blueridge]

Perhaps it is time for a PA comment blitz following this article "No, There Won't be a Doctor Shortage."  Time to school the New York Times?  Fantastic and articulate letters to the editor?  Yes, why not?  While there is an occasional token mention of PAs in articles regarding physician shortage, mostly the authors and editors seem to have failed to receive the memo on the PA profession or lost it or frankly choose to disregard it altogether.  The Health section of the NYT is surely well read by the bulk of authors of healthcare articles for papers far and wide, so make the most of it!    

 

For consideration, and note the last portion of this excerpt regarding policy changes / full potential:

 

 

"Other medical personnel can also expand the reach of physicians to care for a larger population. Nurse practitioners, health aides, pharmacists, dietitians, psychologists and others already care for patients in numerous ways, and their roles should expand in the future. The rise of nonphysician providers will enable more team care. Skilled health aides will monitor patients at home and alert a doctor if certain medical parameters decline. Nurses will provide wound care to diabetic patients, adjust medications like blood thinners and provide the initial management of chemotherapy side effects for cancer patients. Pharmacists will provide more counseling and urgent care. Physicians will remain essential to the proper diagnosis and treatment of disease, but will be backed up by teams who will help manage the more routine features of chronic illness."

"The opportunity exists to deliver more services and care with fewer physicians, but it’s not a foregone conclusion. Policy changes will be necessary to reach the full potential of team care."

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/05/opinion/no-there-wont-be-a-doctor-shortage.html?ref=health

[problem child]

I think the "comments" more than made up for the lack of props to PAs in the article...nearly every comment included (a glowing report of) PAs as providers :) yay, us!

 

but I agree...the times should know better!

[Febrifuge]

Yikes. Never read the comments, I guess. One doc slams us because of the old "they don't know what they don't know!" tautology. Another slams us for over-utilization of tests (as if MDs somehow have x-ray vision I suppose) and "unneeded consultations."

 

So, if we don't ask for help, we're overconfident and clueless about the mundane presentation of rare but serious illnesses. If we ask for help, we're incompetent and wasting precious MD time. Got it. Thanks.

[problem child]

Yikes. Never read the comments, I guess. One doc slams us because of the old "they don't know what they don't know!" tautology. Another slams us for over-utilization of tests (as if MDs somehow have x-ray vision I suppose) and "unneeded consultations."

 

So, if we don't ask for help, we're overconfident and clueless about the mundane presentation of rare but serious illnesses. If we ask for help, we're incompetent and wasting precious MD time. Got it. Thanks.

 

It was only one comment from a(n obvious) crank. the rest of the letters spoke for themselves.