I also see a different attitude in today's doctors. The old timey doctors devoted their lives and lived their lives at the hospital. I think that was feasible when we had local small hospitals. Today's doctors are often working at several different hospitals. And, when I was recently in the hospital last year, the hospital had a "Hospitalist" that was on staff and took care of the medical inpatients. I think that is a great idea and probably a much more cost effective way to provide care than when the family doc would do all that as well.
In addition, if we really want cost effective care, then utilizing Nurse Practitioners and Physician's Assistants is a very effective way to do so as well. However, there are often barriers in place that prevent alternative or other professionals from providing care. Often the mantra is "safety" but in reality it is as much a turf battle as anything else.
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