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Tue Dec 18 13:05:50 GMT 2007

Begs the question: where in your training did you acquire sufficient
wisdom to assign relative value to your colleagues?

Double up on your Lexapro, count your blessings, and have a merry
freaking Christmas.

Pret

-----Original Message-----
From: trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org
[mailto:trauma-list-bounces at trauma.org] On Behalf Of
bensonblues at comcast.net
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 1:28 AM
To: trauma-list at trauma.org
Subject: Physician Extenders (OP-ED Page)

The discourse on physician extenders has been excellent. As a
practitioner whose been a medic, nurse, and (eventually) doctor, I have
my bias. And, it is my optinion that PAs, NPs, EMT-Ps, et cetera are
potentially invaluable at all levels of health care.

However, any practitioner who has not availed themself to a strong
scientific education prior to their clinical training should be
supervised by someone who has. What separates the best thinkers from the
rest is education: 1 year physics, plus 1 yr inorganic chemistry, plus 1
yr organic chemistry, plus 1 yr biochemistry, plus 2 yrs
biology-including genetics and embryology, plus 2 yrs mathematics to
calculus, plus what ever the hell your major was...plus 4 yr (classroom,
lab, clinic, hospital) medical school, plus at least 3 if not 4 if not 5
if not 6 yrs - of residency training, bla bla woof woof. I'm getting a
headache.

If you've met these requisites, no matter your degree or title, I will
believe in and support your practice and its autonomy. If you have not
met these requirements, enjoy your status as the person who can point to
someone else as being responsible for things when they go wrong, and as
someone who can take the credit for things when they go well. You will
most likely require less stenting of your coronary arteries, live
longer, and end up sleeping with the other fellow's widow.

DB

Don M. Benson, DO, FACEP
Program Director, Emergency Medicine Residency
St. John Hospital and Medical Center
Associate Clinical Professor
Department of Emergency Medicine
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Detroit
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Physician Extenders (OP-ED Page)