In a recent member communication the President of the FMA reflects on the issue of "Advanced Medical Home" and the primary physician shortage. I agree with him that we need more primary care physicians but his remarks reveal the true attitude towards family physicians by stating that "We in organized medicine need to make sure that secondary providers don’t usurp our traditional role as captain of the ship." Who are those "secondary providers?"
Family doctors, general internists, pediatricians, ARNPs, PAs??? Are we second class citizens too???
This dismissive remark is indicative of the pervasive mind set within the leadership of the FMA which thrives on the cold war-like black-and-white view of the world. But the current healthcare industrial complex (HDIC) consists of a tight web of services delivered across a horizontally and vertically structured set of providers, including physicians and allied healthcare professionals.
Its takes an unhealthy dose of delusional thinking to claim that ANYONE will be the "captain of the ship."
Moreover, Dr.Dolan and other FMA leaders refuse to recognize this reality and want to roll-back in time to the Garden of Eden of medicine where doctors and patients lived together happily until someone introduced the forbidden fruit of health insurance and government intervention.
We have to strike back against the perpetuation of those false beliefs suggesting that family physicians are taking over medicine as THEY know it.
These ideologues are beyond education. They cannot be talked too anymore. Its also useless to work with them on any issues as it pertains to primary care!! We have to define who we are and what we want and work together with consumer groups, unions and patient advocates to create the healthcare delivery system that we all deserve. Change is tough but necessary. Success favors the prepared and open mind. The odds are in our favor. Lets not miss this opportunity.
Yours
Bernd
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