Florida doesn't have enough doctors for Medicaid expansion, lobby group says

[Rockntractor]

I work for three doctors, an electrical engineer, mechanical engineer and a chemical engineer they own a testing lab. I had no idea they were qualified to diagnose my health, who would ever have thought that all you need is Dr. in front of your name!

[JB]

Doesn't sound like just a chemist to me...

Doesn't sound anywhere near a medical doctor to me. He sounds like a pharmacist. Which is what he is. A pharmacist. Not an MD.

...if using Nurse Practitioners, PA's, and Pharmacists...

AND optometrists. Don't forget about the big E chart guys telling you what you have when you have shortness of breath.

You can't accomplish that without your health and if government is not here to ensure quality of life then it has no purpose.

Absolute Socialist bullshit. The government can make sure my water is clean by preventing criminal activity against pollution but when it comes to who I want to see, when, for my medical care they can go F themselves.

Obamacare isn't going anywhere whether you like it our not. When I see a solution presented that I like I will support it. If you don't like it then don't use it. I could give a F who, if anyone, you see when you are sick.

Excellent. Everyone that came into the system because of Fredocare has to see the optometrists.

[JB]

This whole thing must be a gift to the Trial Lawyers Association. I can almost hear the malpractice suits being drawn up right now. The paperwork will be form letters.

Your honor, Mr. Jones is dead because Larry the Eye Guy gave him a shot of penicillin when Mr. Jones came into his office clutching his chest and complaing of pain in his left arm.

[Rockntractor]

I wonder why peterS thinks chaos is a better alternative to the medical system we had where professionals were educated in the specialty they would be working in. Next he'll be arguing that janitors are qualified to be nurses because they have seen it done in the hospitals they work in.
The disintegration is happening faster than I expected, and to think our socialists thought that we could do government controlled medicine better than every country that has tried and is failing.

[Novaheart]

Pharmacists are not doctors. They are chemists, which means that they have a detailed knowledge of the different chemicals that doctors prescribe, but they are not qualified to diagnose illness or prescribe medications.

I don't think you are correct. The traditional title of a pharmacist is "Dispensing Chemist" and while they did fill prescriptions from doctors, they also prescribed medications for their customers. This is still the case in some countries, is it not?

[Rockntractor]

I don't think you are correct. The traditional title of a pharmacist is "Dispensing Chemist" and while they did fill prescriptions from doctors, they also prescribed medications for their customers. This is still the case in some countries, is it not?

There are witch doctors in some countries, should we try that too?

[Rockntractor]

We could save a lot of money on expensive AIDS treatments with a few of these.

[PeterS]

This whole thing must be a gift to the Trial Lawyers Association.

I thought Fl was like Texas and squelched that. In Texas the return is so small no lawyer will take a malpractice case. I am pretty sure Jeb set it up the same as George...

[SaintLouieWoman]

When I was in the hospital after my stoke my doctor did rounds with a pharmacist to tell him what drugs bet fit my symptoms. Pharmacists are doctors and know which drugs actually work best. For chest pains I go to the hospital; for recomendations to control my High Blood pressure I would have no problem going to my Pharmacist. As for Nurse Practionairs and PA's, from my experience they are perfectly qualified to do general diagnosis and treatment. This is a good idea, not simply because of an influx of new patients, it should be a good way of lowering the cost of healthcare. It is far cheaper to go directly to my pharmacist for my perscription than having to make an appointment, pay my cardiologist $150.00, the cost of an office visit, then go to my pharmacist for my perscription. But hey, it's your money, tweek your own cookie hoss...

I have to agree with you on the PA's. Our internist is a great doc, but he keeps you waiting for hours. I don't have the patience. By the time I'm in the waiting room for 3+ hours (last time it was over 4 hours from the appointment time til SR and I got out of that office) my blood pressure was sky high. So I go to his assistant, who takes the time to quietly talk to me and makes good recommendations. SR is more patient. Also, he had a stroke and needs the doc. I'm a stubborn cuss and have come up with my own specialists (from recommendations from another specialist). I've found good docs that way. I believe patients need to take responsibility for their own health and read and be proactive.

As far as the number of doctors, a friend in Cape Coral, Fl, whose husband is a PA, told me there are as many docs as there are grains of sand in Florida. I think she's right. I've only had one doc, a dermatologist, who had been recommended but had closed her practice. I got someone else in her practice who is excellent.

And if you want a dentist in Florida, there must be thousands. Maybe I'm exaggerating, but there are so many who will give multiple opinions, all gouging the patient for big bucks.

[SaintLouieWoman]

I thought Fl was like Texas and squelched that. In Texas the return is so small no lawyer will take a malpractice case. I am pretty sure Jeb set it up the same as George...

There was a case in Sarasota where a woman lost twins in the ER as they just left her there. Her mom was a nurse and had to deliver the twins, who subsequently died, The new mom was left bleeding on the table and the mom had to try to stop the bleeding. I believe there is a limit of $20k in that government run hospital. So it's not worth suing as the lawyers probably wouldn't take the case as it isn't worth their while.