I already posted this article yesterday here in the 'relaxing lounge'. Interesting that your thread got several posts, and no one responded on the other thread.

I think this issue about nurses taking over the role of primary care physicians is an important issue. One can only speculate about the ramifications. Rather than having doctorate nursing degrees to fill the doctor shortage, why not find ways to increase funding for medical schools and increased medical student enrollment?

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Formerly known as "rkaz".

Interesting to note that this morning some info came out on Mundinger's payouts from certain huge health insurance companies. A huge conflict of interest if I've ever seen one. Totally invalidates her advocacy for low cost nurse doctors - she is an agent of companies who don't want to pay doctors fair wage for their services.

Health Care Renewal: What Influences Advocacy for "Doctor Nurses?"

LOL. Columbia or not, it is so shady to be taking money from an insurance company and simultaneously proposing massive health care training policy changes. Come on, who are these people fooling. This is almost as bad as the lung cancer study last month that was funded by good ol Phil Morris.

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The glass is neither half-full nor half-empty: it's twice as big as it needs to be.

I also think that the whole "Doctor of Nursing" is a horrible idea.

Every nurse who graduates would insist on being called "Doctor" - thus implying that they have the same knowledge and experience as an MD (not the case at all - just compare the textbooks in Nursing vs Medical School).

I don't understand why potential Doctor Nurses wouldn't just want to go to Medical School and get the real thing.....

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~Slaol

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WCU Biology '07
AUC May '08


"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little."
~Edmund Burke

Get Involved: PM me if interested
http://www.dagodalahera.org/
http://www.ivdn-africa.org/medical_programs.asp

Good point and well said, my friend. Go get the real deal and stuck with the MD title.

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Something that bothers you, just flush it off and wipe the remaining patiently. RS-Stanislas

NPs and PAs are already getting increased responsibilities in comparison to PCPs, this is hardly news as more physicians avoid primary care.

Thats why I will be a primary car doc. I will visit homes on call, or attend to patients in a low income area. I may have to stay with my parents ,maybe take a bus,but I will never work for a hospital. To hell with nurses and nurse doctorates.

I'll drink to that

__________________
~Slaol

--------------------------------------------------------------
WCU Biology '07
AUC May '08


"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little."
~Edmund Burke

Get Involved: PM me if interested
http://www.dagodalahera.org/
http://www.ivdn-africa.org/medical_programs.asp

The bottom line is that there is a shortage of primary care providers in the USA. Is there a shortage of physicians??? Obviously not since there were 5000 plus that didn't get matched this year. And why is that? Because the ACGME, AMA and the powers that be don't see fit to add a few thousand more residencies to the match.

Hence, other professions will emerge and fill the gap, ie: DO, NP, PA. ND. Americans have grown impatient waiting to see primary care providers and capitalism has created an opportunity for these other professions to flourish.

Solution: The AMA, ACGME, AAMC and "powers that be" have to get off their butts and solve the problem by opening more residencies to allopathic physicians... plain and simple!!! If not, I promise you the void will be filled whether you like it or not.

Why can not they increase the residency spots for PCP? The problem can be solved in Few years...............

more qualified people are not getting match every year..........

I can't believe you stole my ideas. I also intend to work that way. On call, house crawling, working for potatoes and pies with all the welfare recipients and those who can't afford to pay that I can put my hands on.

I will just buy the bus instead of catching the bus, but living with the parents is a plus. They will have free checkups. lOL

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Something that bothers you, just flush it off and wipe the remaining patiently. RS-Stanislas