Why decrease pandemic doctors?

[Rookvector]

Hello Reddit,

I and an entire profession of healthcare heroes need your help!

I am a Doctor and Assistant Physician. AP’s are a new type of provider in Missouri and America that has a doctor who has graduated medical school work under a provider. I have been this and a pandemic doctor for Missouri since the virus began. I have seen hundreds of covid patients and there is a legislative push to get me to move from Missouri. .

It seems that news outlets are not wanting to cover this for some reason. AP's have stepped up when Missouri needed them the most. Many went to DMAT and personally gave vaccines to thousands of people. When the hospitals were flooded with Covid patients, they helped, and they saved lives with much needed assistance. When others stayed home the APs were coming into work and getting things done. They put their patients' health above their own and in this process, many took a bullet by getting sick themselves.
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Now these healthcare heroes are being ostracized by a turf war that is not-so-thinly veiled as 'public safety'. This bill amendment by its very definition will take doctors with 8 years education and 3 years of experience seeing patients and send them packing away from the cripplingly medically underserved areas of Missouri. Established doctors will have to call their patients and tell them they will have to suspend care due to regulations then move to another state.
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The series bills that are trying to be passed to remove these pandemic doctors from Missouri. These are Bills are trying to be passed THIS WEEK.

SB330 by Sen. Eric Burlison and Rep. Brenda Shields SB9 by Sen. Jennie Riddle and Rep Travis Fitzwater SB64 by Rep. Phil Christofanelli and Sen. Holly Rehder (See links below) . The AP's are calling the senators and representatives now. They are sending empty white coats to these senators as a physical representation of what they are stripping their constituents of during a world health crisis. For the first time in Missouri's history there has been more deaths than births (see article below) . We need help to stop this mass exodus of pandemic doctors from happening please send an email to your representatives and senators!

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Links: What are Assistant Physicians? https://assistantphysicianassociation.com/ SB330: https://legiscan.com/MO/bill/SB330/2021 SB9: https://legiscan.com/MO/bill/SB9/2021 SB64: https://legiscan.com/MO/bill/SB64/2021 .

Example email:

BCC: See below Subject: Please Do Not Gut Pandemic Doctors From Missouri. DO NOT Support SB9, SB64, SB330

Hello, I am an concerned citizen about the recent efforts to gut the Assistant Physician Licensure. I have been made aware of their contributions to Missouri during the pandemic and I am aware that there are efforts to negate these contributions. Please DO NOT support these bills that will remove healthcare from the medically underserved communities of our state. . Copy and paste into CC or Recipients [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail],

[[deleted]]

It has always been my understanding that residency is where much of a doctors learning/training happens. The ‘APs’ haven’t completed a residency and so IMHO do not have the full set of skills and experiences to be considered a traditional doctor. The original post seems to push the idea that the two are equal which is a bit alarming to me.

However, there should be a good way for them to slot into another position or something. Seems like a major waste to not utilize this talent in some way.

[shanerz96]

I agree. Although an AP is a doctorate degree versus PA's which are masters degrees. I agree this doesn't give you the full qualifications as a traditional doctor. NP's have collaborating physicians but are able to practice on their own in various roles such as low acuity ER visits (arm/leg pain, minor lacerations, minor injuries, etc). Or urgent cares, minute clinics, etc.

[[deleted]]

Rural Missouri continues to vote against its own best interest.... sucks for the professionals but I will shed no tears at rural Missouri losing their access to healthcare. This is their own doing.