While I don't disagree with the general comments on PMC status and the waste from overly restrictive supply of Dr.s. It's important to note that among some milieus PA/NP (even to some degree RN) are high status careers. Yes, they are largely working class jobs, but they are among the highest status working class jobs so you are getting many of the most competent folks in those milieus. Is it the same caliber as the marginally rejected medical student? probably not (our education system is pretty good at pulling out the occasional truly super bright folks that pop up and setting them on different paths).
It's a point of contention, but it is not at all established that care from NPs and, in particular, PAs is "vastly inferior" to care from Doctors for the situations they are typically used in. Studies on this matter are mixed (some have found PAs to provide equivalent or even in some cases better care, and, amusingly, generally much better documentation, while others have come to opposite conclusions on quality of care).
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While I don't disagree with the general comments on PMC status and the waste from overly restrictive supply of Dr.s. It's important to note that among some milieus PA/NP (even to some degree RN) are high status careers. Yes, they are largely working class jobs, but they are among the highest status working class jobs so you are getting many of the most competent folks in those milieus. Is it the same caliber as the marginally rejected medical student? probably not (our education system is pretty good at pulling out the occasional truly super bright folks that pop up and setting them on different paths).
It's a point of contention, but it is not at all established that care from NPs and, in particular, PAs is "vastly inferior" to care from Doctors for the situations they are typically used in. Studies on this matter are mixed (some have found PAs to provide equivalent or even in some cases better care, and, amusingly, generally much better documentation, while others have come to opposite conclusions on quality of care).
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