The primary care physician shortage is an important health care issue which continues to receive much attention in the news.
Recent legislation has proposed allowing physician assistants and nurse practitioners to act independently in their delivery of primary care services. Currently these practitioners deliver patient care under a physician’s supervision. However, the new legislation proposes to eliminate the direct supervision. While the contributions nurse practitioners and physician assistants make to medical practices is invaluable, considering the difference in the years and type of education and training, should this legislation pass, what will be the impact on the medical profession and the patient?
While the government will ultimately decide whether or not this shift of responsibility is a solution to the imminent physician shortage, all of the “Special Docs” who provide care for patients in their concierge practices, continue to have the time to deliver uncompromised, premier level of care and attention.
To read more about the pending legislation and the potential effects on physicians and patients, read “The evolving models of primary care: More harm than good?”on Medpage Today’s KevinMD Blog.