LETTER RE: An option for improving access to outpatient general neurology
Nitin K.Sethi, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New Yorksethinitinmd@hotmail.com
Submitted January 16, 2015
While the use of non-physician providers may certainly shorten the wait period and lead to more timely evaluation of new patients, caution needs to be exercised as this practice gains more widespread acceptance.1 It
costs less to hire a non-physician clinician than to hire a fully trained neurologist, even one just out of residency training. While non-physician clinicians may improve productivity and efficiency of a neurology practice, one must not forget that their knowledge and clinical skills are
limited and not comparable to that of a physician. So while they may take on some of the diagnostic and therapeutic functions of a neurologist, task shifting needs to be limited and clinical encounters closely supervised.
Reference
1. Ross SC. An option for improving access to outpatient general neurology. Neurol Clin Pract 2014;4:435-440.
Disclosures: N. Sethi serves as Associate Editor for The Eastern Journal of Medicine.
While the use of non-physician providers may certainly shorten the wait period and lead to more timely evaluation of new patients, caution needs to be exercised as this practice gains more widespread acceptance.1 It costs less to hire a non-physician clinician than to hire a fully trained neurologist, even one just out of residency training. While non-physician clinicians may improve productivity and efficiency of a neurology practice, one must not forget that their knowledge and clinical skills are limited and not comparable to that of a physician. So while they may take on some of the diagnostic and therapeutic functions of a neurologist, task shifting needs to be limited and clinical encounters closely supervised.
Reference
1. Ross SC. An option for improving access to outpatient general neurology. Neurol Clin Pract 2014;4:435-440.
Disclosures: N. Sethi serves as Associate Editor for The Eastern Journal of Medicine.