Where Have All the Primary Care Doctors Gone?

ne of the most serious problems facing the health care professions and the public's health in the United States is the shortage of primary care, or general care, doctors.Indeed, ignoring or failing to solve this issue has the potential to undermine the entire American health care system.Some argue that there is little need to worry about this issue given the rising numbers of nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs).As a general pediatrician with more than 40 years' experience and practice, having been involved in several early NP programs, and having written the first textbook for NPs, 1 I respectfully disagree.In order to better understand how dire this situation is, one needs to understand the role primary care doctors play in our health care system every day of the week.