Historical May 1977 People’s Clinic material. Original service descriptions, fees and medical claims describe the period, not current medical guidance or present-day services.
Primary care is the label of the type of health care that everyone, in big cities at least, is trying to get back to. It isn’t that specialists aren’t needed in the sophisticated field of medicine, but that we need people at the other end of the spectrum too. Those people are the ones you go to first with your aches and pains. They can handle most of your situations directly. Their other main function is to help you utilize the rest of the sophisticated system when you need it. They do that by determining which kind of specialist you need and who and how to contact them. He also follows up after that specific problem is under control. An example is the pediatrician to whom you would go for check ups and shots, or for any suspected sickness. This is the kind of care you can get at the People’s Clinic. We have information and advice, shots, connections, doctors, and some nursepractitioners and physician’s assistants. All are available to you without an appointment.
The nurse-practitioner (NP) and physician’s assistant (PA) are auxiliary health care personnel who greatly increase the availability of primary care. They have special training in diagnostic measures.
In the case of the NP, this is in addition to nursing skills and experience. They work with a doctor. They interview and screen patients, and present to the doctor anyone who needs further diagnosis and/or medical treatment.
Another of their roles is to follow the cases of people who have been treated by a doctor for some condition and are currently keeping it under control with medication. An example is someone with high blood presure. At check ups the NP or PA can answer questions and note any change in the patients condition that should be reported to the doctor.
Though we aren’t yet set up for it, NP’s can see all the patients if there is a doctor on call. In these situations the doctor leaves very specific instructions which allow the NP to treat routine cases. If there is any unusual case the doctor would come in to see the patient.
Making the health care system available to everyone in various locations and schedules is a big challenge. Auxilliary health personnel in neighborhood clinics is part of the solution.
Originally published in The Paper, May 1977.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Archival transcription note: Printed presure and Auxilliary retained.
Original source: SD_Times1977_05.pdf, printed page(s) 8; PDF page(s) 8.
