No, I am not talking about the “Only your doctor can prescribe” problem. I think we have eliminated that thanks to the hard work of many NPs and PAs and the American College of Clinicians who fought so long and hard on that.

I am talking about an even more shocking commercial I saw on TV last night. It was sponsored by “The Foundation For Eye Health Awareness” http://www.ehafoundation.org/ and talked about everyone in America needing to see an “eye doctor”. They went on to say that a good eye exam can detect heart disease, stroke, diabetes and hypertension. I think there are easier ways to detect those diseases before the dangerous intensity than an eye exam would show, but I generally fully agree with the message. Eye exams are important and too many people in America never get one. The message is a sound one and one we should applaud it. So why was I shocked? As a PA who has been in medical politics for many years, I found the term “eye doctor” being used by a foundation shocking. If you are using that term you are including both optometrists and ophthalmologists. In case you do not know, both of those professions have been at war with each other for decades. The underdog was the optometrist with the physician/ ophthalmologist trying to hold back the other profession from doing more. Sound familiar? 

I do not think the AMA has given up their fight against the optometrist so what gives? 

After looking at their web site, the “Foundation” is made up of a Board of pharmaceutical marketers, optometrists, ophthalmologists and even even an optometrist leader. My guess is that both professions or at least some of their practitioners decided that it was better to drive thousands of patients towards the “eye doctor” than away from them. It did not matter which eye doctor, all would do. Sort of like turning your axes and spears into plows because both professions win. Whatever “eye doctor” means to the person watching the message is OK as long as they see one. A simple but politically shocking message.

I do not think that the AMA will be giving up their fight against optometry taking on more of “the doctors” duties, but there is a lession for us PAs and NPs here. How about approaching the pharmaceutical industry to do some commercials which educate consumers on what BOTH NPs and PAs do. After all we do 95% of the same things. About us showing America how we can deliver their health care and how there are more than 200,000 of us ready, willing and able to do it well and cost effectively. No politics, no anti-MD message, nothing but the truth. And maybe the physicians can get behind it too-after all in most cases the PA or NP will be working as part of a team with physicians. Most of us do not own our own practices, ERs or hospitals. If so, we will need the AAPA and AANP/ACNP working together on this. Not as impossible or shocking as optometrist/ophthalmologists working together for sure.

The “Foundation For Affordable Primary Care” sounds pretty good to me! How about you? 

Dave has been a PA, and later NP, leader for thirty years.  He strongly believes that NPs and PAs must work together to insure a better future for both professions.  Most recently Dave has been busy launching another dream; Clinician 1, the first internet community for PAs and NPs.  In October 2008, Dave was honored by the New Jersey State society of PAs with its “Lifetime Achievement Award”.

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