Whither primary care?

An article in Medical Economics discusses the primary care crisis and wonders where it’s heading. It cites all the disturbing trends we’re well aware of including increasing demands of an aging population and fewer doctors choosing primary care careers. As interesting as the article itself are the reader comments. One that really got my attention comes from Mark Flodin M.D. of Tallahassee: “You assert that Internists would be better able to manage the more complex medical issues of the elderly than Family Medicine physicians......that's total nonsense.”

That’s a perfect example of the pervasive misconception that Internal Medicine is not really a specialty in its own right. Professional organizations such as the American College of Physicians have, unfortunately, done little to alter that perception.

Background: Internal Medicine’s identity crisis.