PA Column and Discussion in Wall Street Journal
AAPA executive vice president Bill Leinweber responded online to a Wednesday Wall Street Journal column by Benjamin Brewer, MD, that discussed the crisis in primary care and the PA profession.
Link to Brewer’s original column, “Primary Health Care Needs Fixing Before Universal Care Can Work”
Here’s an excerpt from Leinweber’s post on the newspaper’s online forum:
The solution to the strain on the health care system can only be addressed by looking at both the underlying economic structure, as discussed by Dr. Brewer, and all viable, health care delivery models – including ones utilizing PAs working in partnership with their supervising physicians.
This is an excerpt from a response to Leinweber’s from Brewer.
On the subject of Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners - I would simply say that the patients in my region perceive a quality difference in care delivered by PAs, NPs and physicians. I don't necessarily disagree with them.
For some conditions there would be no difference in outcomes. For other patient presentations, the extra experience and training of a doctor counts for something. Stating the obvious is not an attempt to disparage anyone but may not be perceived as politically correct.
I see NPs and PAs covering 70% of the work at 70% of a doctor's pay. It's no longer 90% of the work for 50% of the pay in most primary care private practices. Nurse Practitioners giving Anesthesia can out earn a family doctor with less call and no business ownership hassles.
Link to Wall Street Journal online forum