Disgraceful

[Reality Check 2]

Patients at Risk

The Rise of the Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant in Healthcare

by Niran Al-Agba, M.D. and Rebekah Bernard, M.D.

 

 

• Number of Pages: 254
• ISBN-10: 1627343164
• ISBN-13: 9781627343169
• Publisher: Universal-Publishers
• Year: 2020
• Category: Medicine & Health, Business & Economics

Synopsis

Patients at Risk: The Rise of the Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant in Healthcare exposes a vast conspiracy of political maneuvering and corporate greed that has led to the replacement of qualified medical professionals by lesser trained practitioners. As corporations seek to save money and government agencies aim to increase constituent access, minimum qualifications for the guardians of our nation’s healthcare continue to decline—with deadly consequences. This is a story that has not yet been told, and one that has dangerous repercussions for all Americans. 

With the rate of nurse practitioner and physician assistant graduates exceeding that of physician graduates, if you are not already being treated by a non-physician, chances are, you soon will be. While advocates for these professions insist that research shows that they can provide the same care as physicians, patients do not know the whole truth: that there are no credible scientific studies to support the safety and efficacy of non-physicians practicing without physician supervision. 

Written by two physicians who have witnessed the decline of medical expertise over the last twenty years, this data-driven book interweaves heart-rending true patient stories with hard data, showing how patients have been sacrificed for profit by the substitution of non-physician practitioners. Adding a dimension neglected by modern healthcare critiques such as An American Sickness, this book provides a roadmap for patients to protect themselves from medical harm. 

WORDS OF PRAISE and REVIEWS 

Listen to the authors' podcast at Buzzsprout.com 

 

Al-Agba and Bernard tell a frightening story that insiders know all too well. As mega corporations push for efficiency and tout consumer focused retail services, American healthcare is being dumbed down to the point of no return. It's a story that many media outlets are missing and one that puts you and your family's health at real risk.
--John Irvine, Deductible Media

Laced with actual patient cases, the book’s data and patterns of large corporations replacing physicians with non-physician practitioners, despite the vast difference in training is enlightening and astounding. The authors' extensively researched book methodically lays out the problems of our changing medical care landscape and solutions to ensure quality care.
--Marilyn M. Singleton, MD, JD

A masterful job of bringing to light a rapidly growing issue of what should be great concern to all of us: the proliferation of non-physician practitioners that work predominantly inside algorithms rather than applying years of training, clinical knowledge, and experience. Instead of a patient-first mentality, we are increasingly met with the sad statement of Profits Over Patients, echoed by hospitals and health insurance companies.
--John M. Chamberlain, MHA, LFACHE, Board Chairman, Citizen Health 

A must read for patients attempting to navigate today’s healthcare marketplace.
--Brian Wilhelmi MD, JD, FASA 

CSPAN "Washington Journal" Interview on 2020-May-02 Dr. Rebekah Bernard on Primary Health Care Access and COVID-19 Pandemic

About the Author

Dr. Al-Agba earned her medical degree at the University of Washington in 1999 and completed pediatric residency at the University of Colorado School of Medicine/Denver Children’s Hospital in 2002. She is a board-certified pediatrician in private practice in Silverdale, Washington. 

Dr. Bernard received her medical degree from the University of Miami in 1999 and completed her residency in family medicine at the Florida Hospital in Orlando in 2002. She is a family physician in private practice in Fort Myers, Florida. 

[Reality Check 2]

This was a link this morning in a regular email series I get.

I clicked on it and wish I hadn't.

HOW can two doctors with 10 yrs less experience each than I have even think this is ok?

I am disgusted and appalled.

[ventana]

So NP'a promote themselves, likely above their lowest denominator

now we have MD's lumping us together with NP's

while the past 30 years we have sat by the wayside

 

I am glad we have the current fighters leading the way for us in the political realm... this is ridiculous.... 

 

On a side note however - why is it my local cardiology practice can not keep Doc's yet has something like 15 pa and np on staff..... they are mis treating the doc's and indeed  just filling in with PA/NP typically new grads.... 

[Cideous]

Docs forfeited their right to bitch when they sold out to those "large corporations" that they complain about.  Too damn bad, deal with it.

[TheFatMan]

Per some of the reviews, it is propaganda backed by physician lobbyists. Laughably, they use Facebook comments as evidence that APPs are dangerous.

[Hope2PA]

Haha, Fingers crossed, in 6 months,(I know legislation takes little longer), the new more highly trained and educated MCP can be promoted and the book will be about NP and PA, so MCP must be okay to any patient who actually reads thy BS..  I also know education will not change, but maybe it can be explained better to show differences in providers. NPs always suggest they are better educated because they have 3 years post RN, and at same time say PA is only 2 years. They know most people will not realize it is 3 years of part time, on average, 6-8 credits for 6 semesters to gain NP While PA is 28 months, full time, on average 16-18 credits per semester. Fight for the profession, Nurses nor physicians think twice about throwing PA’s under the bus when it comes to their own lively hood. 

[PACali]

So they are attacking all major healthcare systems that uses PA/NP. These 2 doctors knows better than the rest of America. 

By the way, there is an NP works at her clinic lol https://www.silverdalepediatrics.com/our-staff

 

 

[ANESMCR]

I was wondering, how do they find the time. These two are money-grubbing buffoons. Rebekah Bernard runs a concierge medical clinic with a 600 pt load MAX. And she went to Florida hospital family med residency in Orlando which isn’t saying much.

[ANESMCR]

8 minutes ago, PACali said:

By the way, there is an NP works at her clinic lol https://www.silverdalepediatrics.com/our-staff

 

 

Yet probably functions as a nurse. Very common in private practice.

[rev ronin]

3 hours ago, TheFatMan said:

Laughably, they use Facebook comments as evidence that APPs are dangerous.

The appropriate scientific use for Facebook comments is verifying that the Internet is still up.

[CAAdmission]

13 hours ago, ANESMCR said:

 Rebekah Bernard runs a concierge medical clinic with a 600 pt load MAX.

Even better, she has a post on her website where she says how much she hates government regulations and supports the free market. 

Yet she is not willing to let the market play out in having patients select their provider. 

[TheFatMan]

Of course, no response to this from her:

[Reality Check 2]

I got all bent last night and starting looking up stats on PAs and care and studies and all.

Then realized I will never change these authors' minds. 

Dr Bernard is on her 3rd or 4th book over the years. Seems to have a lot to say about a lot. 

The Amazon reviews for this book are terrifying. People saying things like "wow, I did not know and will now demand a doctor". 

I certainly get tired of people judging and criticizing our profession but making no attempt to actually speak to a PA or AAPA or present any suggestions - just bashing.  How about going to the source and having a conversation? Guess that is too much to ask in our current national political and social climate. 

My spidey sense tells me these docs have been "outshined" by PAs at some point and developed a deep resentment leading to this attack. 

My last patient just told me he feels very lucky to have me and appreciates me.

I am going to run with that and keep doing the good work I do.

 

[EMSGuy1982]

Dr. Al-Agba frequently writes articles for our local newspaper (KitsapSun) and uses it as her soap box. Lately she’s been a self proclaimed “go-to” one everything Covid. She takes frequent swipes at our profession. From what I gathered that really ruffles her feathers is the term “medical provider” and refers to it as “Propaganda language”.  Also, if you look at the book on Amazon most of the reviews that are 5 stars are from unverified purchases and were all submitted on the same day... interesting. 

[EMSGuy1982]

On 12/1/2020 at 4:43 PM, PACali said:

So they are attacking all major healthcare systems that uses PA/NP. These 2 doctors knows better than the rest of America. 

By the way, there is an NP works at her clinic lol https://www.silverdalepediatrics.com/our-staff

 

 

Also it does appear that they spend most of the time bashing NP’s and their independent practice run... unfortunately we likely have been lumped into this. Shocked the NP is still employed

[MediMike]

6 hours ago, EMSGuy1982 said:

Dr. Al-Agba frequently writes articles for our local newspaper (KitsapSun) and uses it as her soap box. Lately she’s been a self proclaimed “go-to” one everything Covid. She takes frequent swipes at our profession. From what I gathered that really ruffles her feathers is the term “medical provider” and refers to it as “Propaganda language”.  Also, if you look at the book on Amazon most of the reviews that are 5 stars are from unverified purchases and were all submitted on the same day... interesting. 

Alright man, we're going to need you to start firing off some editorials in response! Put aside your brood/gaggle/flock (can't remember how many you have at the moment) and get to writing!

[kidpresentable]

9 hours ago, EMSGuy1982 said:

From what I gathered that really ruffles her feathers is the term “medical provider” and refers to it as “Propaganda language”. 

What does she think of Medical Care Practitioner?

[virtuous woman]

On 12/2/2020 at 12:14 PM, Reality Check 2 said:

My last patient just told me he feels very lucky to have me and appreciates me.

I am going to run with that and keep doing the good work I do.

 

I think that really is key. We should keep providing quality care like we always have and trust that the patients that really know us will disregard this garbage.

[MidnitePA]

And Florida PAs received this from our own medical association.

[Malik144]

If you want to know the general theme of the book and not give the author any money, she does a synopsis. 

Be warned, the amount of "possible correlations" and vague charts presented is astonishing.

 

[ANESMCR]

4 hours ago, Malik144 said:

If you want to know the general theme of the book and not give the author any money, she does a synopsis. 

Be warned, the amount of "possible correlations" and vague charts presented is astonishing.

 

She seems to have a fundamental misunderstanding regarding the difference between PAs and NPs. Seems like we’re basically dragged into this while they primarily bash NPs throughout. 

Oddly enough, we’re the only ones that feel the consequences. 

[Cideous]

For every nightmare "miss" she brings up, like the first one...I can find 10 in your face "misses" by docs.  When someone lives in a glass house...don't throw stones.

[Malik144]

Do people just think PA’s stop working after they graduate...like you could honestly say you didn’t know about the average of 2500 hours  to get into a program but...like you just stop counting...

[TheFatMan]

5 hours ago, MidnitePA said:

And Florida PAs received this from our own medical association.

[surgblumm]

I haven't seen this in quite a while on a large scale but can remember sitting with FMG's at a coffee shop and asking me how they could become PAs in NY. I told them that as of my year as president of NYSSPA, the state medical board would no longer allow FMG's or IFMG's sit for PA boards as the Harlem Hospital PA Program demonstrated in a Fast track course that they were unable to get beyond a 45% on initial exam prior to a one year course and after all still managed to fail.

These two scoundrels are part of the low level MDs that could not get a residency in a large center and still had a bad taste in their mouths from past experience being rejected.