DOCS: Answer to doc shortage
For several generations my family has had a medical professional active in his/her medical field. Historically, for at least a couple of centuries in our nation, medical services of all disciplines have been needed to merely maintain basic remedial health needs of the ill, plus those unfortunates becoming injured in conflict, wars, sports and transportation. Viral epidemics, some of which require specialized teams for long terms of service for maintenance of life and/or rehabilitation. Constant recruiting and training the necessary personnel, including identifying those with enough intellectual capacity and physical stamina, and providing a location and facility for a period of training.
Then comes the overlapping trial and internship in the facility, taking on the responsibilities for which he/she has trained.
Just look at the development of our local Kootenai Health Group. It is most interesting to note that the principal director is other than a doctor. It is also interesting to note that, to my knowledge (limited it might be), the Congress, all bodies of legislation, most law enforcement, the court systems, insurance companies and underwriters, attorneys and legal professionals, in this day and age, are each currently and generally referred to in contracts, etc. as “The Provider.”
In most U.S. states, and I believe including Idaho, there can be a CADRE, by definition (see dictionary):
1. basic structure or framework
2. an operational unit as of staff officers or other key personnel, around which an expanded organization can be built
3. a small, unified group organized to instruct or lead a larger group; nucleus
As a resident of Idaho since 1996-7, I, with my extended family, have chosen to recognize an informal cadre of groups of physicians of our choice, including those licensed and listed MD (Medical Doctor or Doctor of Medicine) or DO (Osteopathic Doctor or Doctor of Osteopathy) within most of the offices and laboratories of the licensed MD or DO are, either or both, Licensed Nurse Practitioners (Licensed RN plus ARN = advanced registered nurse) and Physician’s Assistant (PA). Some Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners in various communities have separate offices as well as hospital privileges.
Within the past almost 6 years, my own health challenges beginning with three weeks emergency and hospital, plus 15-week confinement, all with rehab and occasional continuing physical therapy, I’ve gotten to recognize the system quite well. And frankly, the answer to the question posed by your headline is simply, “There’s always a doctor in the house.”
JOHN S. McCONNELL
Post Falls