Quote:
Originally Posted by kennyc
Sure why not.  The more the merrier, right? 
You may very well have touched on an aspect of the health care crises that needs fixing. I don't know that more doctors necessarily are the answer, but perhaps we need a way for people to get the services that are required (not just because they want them or think they deserve them) in a different manner, walk-in clinics, medical technicians, etc. etc. Not everyone needs the most prestigious doctor in town, nor should they be seeing a doctor for every sniffle they get. |
That is actually a good point... and I think it would be one way to bring costs down... and actually allow Drs to make more money. We should get used to seeing health car professionals that are less trained or perhaps Drs in training. Sort of how the hospital has Interns, which are taught and supervised by Residents which are taught and supervised by Attendings, which are taught and supervised by chiefs and or peers.
Why does that only happen in the hospital. A Drs practice could perhaps have two or three Nurse Practitioners supervised by Physicians assistants, supervised by a single Dr. It would cost less money to see a Nurse, then a bit more to see the Assistant, then more to see the Dr. Generally there would be a reporting hierarcy just like you have in any other business. The CEO doesn't do all the work. He has VPs, which have managers. Etc.
This would be a good way to:
1. Keep costs down because you don't have to see the Dr every time.
2. Allow for a bigger pool of health care professionals. I think more people would get into health care if they didn't see the long Pre-Med, Med School, Residency ahead of them.
Bottom line, there are lots of ideas I think. We just do it the way we do it because of tradition.
BOb