Look for “walmart clinics” in your future, staffed with RNs and PA’s instead of doctors.
Think of the opportunities for the tort lawyers once people start being killed or maimed because of under-trained caregivers!
On the other hand, this could get us to actual reform of tort laws, because the problems can be blamed on Obamacare. Will we be smart enough to prepare for this dynamic?
“Look for “walmart clinics” in your future, staffed with RNs and PA’s instead of doctors.”
Quite frankly, I would not have a problem with this >>IF<< the staff at such facilities had a very serious mandate to refer any cases which exceeded their skill/competence level to a real doc. Now if you ask me how that would be achieved/enforced, I cannot answer you in detail because I don’t work in the industry. It is axiomatic that folks who don’t know, don’t know what they don’t know. But virtually all RN’s I have encountered have been pretty darn sharp.
I >>DO<< believe that something like 60-75% of doctor/emerg room visits could be handled efficiently by small, casual clinics.
If from this comment you would accuse me of acquiescing to our brave new world of healthcare, I’d have to plead guilty to some extent.
I have absolutely no problem with these "Wal Mart" clinics. They can serve a very helpful purpose: caring for people with non-emergency needs.
First, regarding the doctor shortage. I have proposed all along that the main focus of any health care legislation should have been encouraging students to go into medicine. We should offer tuition incentives to students who study to become specialists, dentists, doctors, nurses, PA's, whatever. Pay their tuition in return for four years of service in clinics for the needy. Just like the military offers.
Second, the "poor and needy" would be able to go to these neighborhood clinics FREE OF CHARGE. Might they have to wait in line? Yes! But it is free! Might they see a different doctor each time they go, or maybe even see a nurse or PA? Yes! But it is free!
Now consider the "prosperous" person who pays thousands of dollars a year for health insurance. I won't even mention the extra taxes and fees. Why is it wrong for that person to expect a choice when it comes to choosing their doctor? Why is it wrong that the one who pays for the insurance is able to make an appointment and can expect a minimum of waiting? Doesn't that person pay for that right?
EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET NECESSARY HEALTH CARE. In my opinion, it has always been available.
The problem comes when you try to make everyone's health care equal. If you make it the same for those who pay and those who don't, you lose the support of the paying segment.