Specialists: 'We're also primary care providers.' (medical specialists claim primary care status)

Article Abstract:

Medical specialists are concerned that health care reform's focus on generalists may threaten their business and are seeking primary care status for themselves. Under managed competition, primary care providers have an important role as gatekeepers, determining if patients need to be referred and whom they should see. Incentives are being offered to students to choose primary care, and generalists' salaries are increasing. Specialists feel that they may become the lower tier of a two-level system.

Economic aspects

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Reform ripple: retraining specialists for primary care

Article Abstract:

Forecasters predict a need to retrain physicians to increase the number of generalists if health care reform diminishes the demand for medical specialists. Retraining of physicians would include testing and guidelines. Also under consideration is the option of certification for a limited time period, as initiated by the internal medicine board. A majority of medical students continue to avoid the primary care specialties of family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics.

Forecasts and trends, Training, Health care reform

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Federal committee recommends primary care quotas

Article Abstract:

The Council on Graduate Medical Education (COGME) has passed a resolution recommending that residency programs allocate half of their positions for general practitioners, such as family doctors and pediatricians. Although 43% of all doctors are involved in general practice, fewer medical students are entering such fields in favor of more specialized practices. Hence, the COGME feels quotas may be a way to encourage more students to enter general medicine.

Social aspects, Education, Social policy, Physicians (General practice), General practitioners, Graduate medical education, Council on Graduate Medical Education

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Boosting primary care; policymakers, academicians seek to change the mix. Accreditors: should med schools boost family medicine?
• Abstracts: Setbacks on self-referral bans: some doctors heartened, but others say tightening trend continues. Self-referral tug of war: Ethical policy vs. state politics

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