Engage in Online Conversations About NPs
Friday's New York Times article about retail clinics titled "A Quick Trip to the Store for Milk and a Throat Swab" asked readers to comment on their Well Blog about retail healthcare and nurse practitioners. And they sure did. It's worth it to read some of the discussion to stay informed about what misperceptions the public and physicians may have about NPs. And add some comments of your own! Following are a few excerpts from reader comments:
"They
billed my insurance a modest $40 but more importantly they provided the kind of
simple and prompt medical care that my two other choices, my own doctor or the
ER, could not. My experience is that there is a place for this kind of care. As
long as patients recognize the limits of these places and followup with their
own doctor when needed I think these ‘clinics' are fine."- Paula C.
"I'm just one man with one experience but last night
I went to get a flu shot at the closest Minute Clinic and it was a disaster.
When I got there there were 12 people waiting in front of me and when after 1/2
hr I decided to cut my losses and go home there were still 11 people in front
of me, each and every one with a look of misery and frustration on their faces. My takeaway: MinuteClinic idea better on paper than in
practice. Perhaps should be renamed 90 MinuteClinic." - Randy
"Being
uninsured, the Minute Clinic IS my doctor. God bless ‘em because there not
anywhere else for me to go." - Theodora
"4th year medical students have better training than
NPs/DNPs. They have a significantly greater basic science training AND they
have a few thousand more clinical hours of training. Would you see a 4th year medical student for your
health problems? If no, then why would you see NPs/DNPs without physician
oversight? It doesn't make any logical sense." - Student
"As a nurse practitioner in the state of Maine, I am state licensed,
nationally certified and an independent practitioner. Do I believe I
can practice without the support of a team which includes those with
more (and less) education than me? Of course not! But frankly, I
wouldn't want a neurosurgeon providing primary care for my family any
more than I would want my primary care provider doing my brain surgery.
As the author points out, retail clinics have a very specific role and
within that role, they are more than able to provide high quality care.
Although I strongly support a team approach to health care delivery, I
need to point out that I am not a"midlevel" provider or a "physician
extender." I do what I do well and recognize my limitations, behavior I
expect of all professionals. Sadly, until we address the health care crisis in this country in a
manner that ensures access for all to primary care, retail clinics,
urgent care centers and ERs will be the only provider for too many
folks."- Lisa
"Lisa," the NP whose comment is listed above, responded very coherently to the concerns raised in other comments, and she gave useful information to the people involved in that conversation and the many other people reading. In today's Internet-ruled world, it's a great idea to make your voice heard in venues like blogs, forums, and social networking sites. Get involved online!