Letter: Fill void with nurse practitioners
Photo credit: Bloomberg News | Winthrop-University Hospital is holding a mini-med school adult education program consisting of five classes on five consecutive Wednesdays beginning next week. Each class centers on parts of the body and how they work.
Regarding "Not enough doctors" [News, Feb. 17], I am a nurse practitioner who has been in practice since 2002. The article refers to a "national, regional and local shortage of primary care physicians."
Many of my friends and family opt to see a nurse practitioner for their medical needs. In New York, there is an initiative to allow certified nurse practitioners to practice without a collaborative licensed physician. Many states have enacted this already. We should be proactive, not reactive, before the physician shortage worsens.
Diana D'Anna, Holtsville
