1) Marcia K. Flesner responds to my op-ed, commenting that I “failed to give a solution” and how nurse practitioners are the answer.
My take: Perhaps she neglected to read the section after I wrote, “How do we fix this problem?”
Our nurse practitioner colleagues play a vital role in health care delivery. Asking them to take over primary care as a permanent solution is not the answer.
Although they are appropriately trained to manage a proportion of primary care issues, complex patient issues and coordinating care requires more extensive training.
I would venture that many nurse practitioners would readily admit this.
2) Soon to be graduating medical student Graham Walker has been writing extensive pieces on the woes of our health care system.
My take: I find myself agreeing with Graham more often than not. Panda Bear admits this as well. Surprising, considering we’re on opposite sites of the single-payer fence.
It seems physicians agree on the problems. Solutions however, is where the debate can become contentious.
3) The LA Times wrote a piece questioning if generic drugs are as effective as brand name medications.
My take: Randomized trials are critical to put this issue to rest. If physicians and patients believe the superiority of name brand drugs, it will significantly slow any cost saving potential of generics.
Personally, I think generics are fine. But this debate is growing more heated by the day and will soon be impossible to ignore.
If Big Pharma is somehow behind this movement, it’s a brilliant move on their part.
