January 2003 • Volume 9 • Number 3 |
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To the reader Write us a letter of 200 words or fewer (subject to editing). FP Report, 11400 Tomahawk Creek Parkway, Leawood, KS 66211-2672; fax them to (913) 906-6089; call (800) 274-2237, Ext. 5230; or contact fpreport@aafp.org via e-mail. |
To the editor:
I've been spending a lot of time thinking about the future of family medicine. I think I do so because I'm always trying to improve my clinic's performance in order to survive economically. I believe family doctors will always be needed -- but there may not be as many as in the past.
Nurse practitioners are very good, but they lack the ability and scope to handle all that we have been trained for. Some of them do pediatric care, some provide women's wellness services, and some work in urgent care. I believe it is our duty to harness the power of midlevel providers and train them further in an area, so that they may allow us to continue to offer affordable care. Affordable care has always been synonymous with family medicine, and having midlevel providers as part of your team makes it so much easier to survive economically.
If we do not embrace this view, we may find ourselves in competition with midlevel providers, as we all know the costs of care are spiraling out of control. I believe there is a five- to 10-year window to do this. Let's not miss it.
Bruce Fearon, M.D.
Lee's Summit,
Mo.
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