List and explain two factors that determine the supply of doctors and nurses. Also, to what degree can nurses substitute for doctors?
Healthcare Delivery Systems
1: Discussion 300-350 words, APA format with at least 1 reference. Question under, no cover page needed,
The delivery of healthcare services is dependent on the availability of skilled professionals who can provide needed care and supporting services. List and explain two factors that determine the supply of doctors and nurses. Also, to what degree can nurses substitute for doctors?
2. Response #1: 200 words, no specific format, cover page, or references required.
“The supply of health care workers is perhaps the most important component of the health care system, because the delivery of health care services is dependent on the availability of skilled professionals who can provide needed care and supporting services” (Kovner and Knickman 2011). If there is a decline in health care staff (i.e. physicians, nurses and supporting staff) it will slow the process of care given. Patients will be waiting longer to be seen at the level of both obtaining an appointment and also waiting in the office to be seen. Two factors that determine supply of nurses and physicians are 1. A shortage of primary care physicians and 2. limitations with wages for nursing. Both of these factors have a great impact on supply in a negative way. Primary care physicians are becoming a very unappealing field for physicians. There are many “specialty areas” for physicians to work in and gain higher wages from. “There are multiple factors, but clearly one of them is primary care physicians’ lower earnings, compared to specialist physicians” (Kovner and Knickman 2011). Primary care physicians are the gateway to quality care. They should be the first person you see when it comes to health. With a shortage pf primary care physicians, patients are waiting longer and potentially being hurried through their appointments. Nurses are the hardest workers. They go between the patient, patient’s family, and doctors. They are the forefront for care given to a patient. Nurses are protected from working short staffed but that can also limit wage increases because the funds may not be available to compensate all of the staff. “RN demands is affected by regulations that prevent health care providers from reducing their nurse staffing, including minimum staffing laws and the standards of certification organizations.Nurses are able to “replace” a doctor to a small degree. If they are a Nurse Practitioner then they are able to order x-rays and prescribe medications but that is based on each state. “the main factor limiting the ability of nurse practitioners to be fully engaged in the delivery of primary care is that the legal scope of practice NP’s is too restrictive in some states” (Kovner and Knickman 2011). Nurses perform a good portion of care but with these limitations and restrictions it keeps the care they perform to a minimum in comparison to a physician.
Reference: Kovner, Anthony R. and Knickman, James R. (2011), Health Care Delivery in the United States, Springer Publishing Company; New York, NY
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