Chapter 1 ('Overview')

1. Data from Robert Hooker raises issues about costs, referral patterns, and supervision needs of PA's in an HMO setting. (p3)
   
   
2. Health care organizations (for example HMO's) are said to increase productivity when use NPP (non-physician practitioners), but this neglects to compare with other models which are more cost effective than HMO's. (p3)
   
   
3. 'Competencies lead to a task-oriented approach rather than a role-oriented approach and thus preclude viewing NPP's as substitutes for physicians' (p4)
   
   
4. "Dramatic changes in regard to present NPP training were proposed." (p5) Does this indicate that the present training schemes are inadequate, and how much more of this will duplicate the training given to MD's? As well, 'conference participants were unable to agree about specific recommendations regarding policies that should shape the training and utilization of physician assistants and nurse practitioners.' (p8)
   
   
5. 'PA's are duplicating the specialization and practice patterns of physicians. Only a fraction of NP's are practicing in underserved areas.' (p5)
   
   
6. 'How to address long-term retention problems for NPP remains unanswered' (p6)
   
   
7. 'An abundance of new questions has emerged. More data on health care needs and the health care workforce are needed' (p8,9)