[fatnotlazy]

My aunt was telling me that my uncle (her husband) has some urinary tract problem — he has been to the doctor’s twice, only he has yet to see the doctor. Both times he was seen by a nurse practitioner. All that was done was give him some antibiotics and send him on his way. He still has the problem.

Welcome to Obamacare, Aunt Helen and Uncle Joe!

[hinckley buzzard]

If you have a loved one in a nursing home, you can expect that s/he will be seen regularly by a NP but the doctor will be in touch only by fax with the nurses and his NP. This has been developing the last several years and is becoming the norm.

Medicare used to require that the Dr have a face to face visit with each patient at least once a month. No more.

I expect this will become the norm for all hospital and nursing home medicine under obamacare. Get used to it.