Will PAs and NPs become general practioners?

I have heard rumors that the medical profession will evolve to where physicians assistants and nurse practicioners are going to be the family doctors and general pradctioners. What we think of as doctors today will be more like specialists.

Is this true?

rumors true? one would expect conversations regarding such an idea, however until PA training becomes more comprehensive and the AMA loosens up its control I doubt it will happen soon.

That will not happen. A nurse, no matter how well trained, will never replace a physician. Insurance companies will probably try to get this done; please don't let them!

It's what insurance companies are working toward. They pay less, and care nothing about outcome - how can they lose?

I just heard a commercial on TV this morning that said "Ask your prescriber about Ambien" NOT "Ask your doctor" - Prescriber.

Lawyers aren't going to like it, though, because PA and NP pockets aren't as deep. Their training is also much less than that of a physician. Mistakes are going to happen, but it's going to take some real disasters to effect meaningful change. The pendulum is still swinging away from physician care, and it will be a while before it swings back.

I'm going to stick with MD or DO's, personally, even if I have to pay out of pocket for the privilege.

(The AMA is next to worthless. Until I see some real support for physicians, I'm not joining)

Doubtful. Speaking as a PA, we're trained to SUPPLEMENT, not REPLACE physicians. While some may disagree, I LIKE having MD/DO backup. While I've learned quite a lot over the years, the docs I work with know more.

I think that the GPs of today (family practice & internists) will always (and should be) be the cornerstones of a patient's medical care.