[NPInfo] Prime Med conference Midlevel talk

[karenfnp at comcast.net]

I applaud the the effort to offer a talk focused on the role of NPs and PAs in health care at a Prime Med conference.  Though it is overwhelmeingly product oriented, I enjoyed a keynote speech at the Anaheim PrimeMed conference in May 2007 which addressed American Mania and looked at how Adam Smith's capitalistic theory and American's drive to multi task and not be satisfied with "enough",has developed the public health problem of an overly action, work, entertainment oriented society that is too stimulating and leading to many chronic health problems.  There was no product endorsement, other than he did author a book on the subject.  It demonstrates that the planners of Prime Med realize they need to offer more than the gadgets and free lattes at booths to maintain their provider customer base.

On a related note,  I attended a risk management conference offered by the Oregon Medical Association recently.  When after a second speaker used the term, physician-extender, I raised my hand and made it very clear that I was offended by the term and that there were many NPs in the room that also few this as inflammatory.  The lawyer for the organization said that this is a commonly used term but he would refrain from using it in the group.  An ER doc, who was also a nurse apologized profusely for the use of the term to the group twice and said she made a special effort, likely due to her nursing background, to honor the uniqueness of NPs.

I think that their is a genuine need to explain our uniqueness to docs as well as insurers so that we are not just fewed as a way for people to make extra money in their practices by having a lower cost (to them) colleague/employee.

Karen Riesinger 
karefnp at comcast.net
Portland, Oregon