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Jeff Stidham grew up and lives in Bartow. He has been with the Tribune for nearly 22 years, the last 10 on the editorial board.

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Sheryl Young was a Tampa Tribune Community Columnist in 2005-2006. A freelance writer since 1997, including the Tampa Bay Business Journal, Tampa Style Magazines, St. Pete Times and nationally in Better Nutrition, Today’s Christian Woman and more. She’s received a First Place Amy Foundation national "Roaring Lambs" Writing Award, and has lived in Tampa Bay with her family for over 20 years.

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Kris DiGiovanni

Kris DiGiovanni is a Tribune Community Columnist, Huffington Post contributor, Daily Kos diarist, and teacher, who recently moved from NW Hillsborough to another planet - a small beach community in Pinellas County. She also blogs at www.sandscript.wordpress.com

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Primary Care Docs Solution to Health Care Crisis

Posted Aug 19, 2009 by Gary Beemer

Updated Aug 19, 2009 at 08:29 AM

When I was a kid back in the Stone Age our family doctor was a Renaissance Man. Dr. Spurgeon was a General Practitioner and served as our family Obstetrician, Pediatrician, ENT, Dermatologist, Cardiologist, Gastroenterologist, Immunologist, Orthopedist, Nutritionist and Psychiatrist all rolled into one.

He knew our entire bodies inside and out – literally – and we trusted him as an expert, but more importantly as a wise and caring human being. His care was holistic in the sense that he never looked at just one aspect of our health, but gave us a thorough going-over and sage advice every time he saw us. His vigilant care prevented minor illnesses from becoming major ones, and if we did get sick or break something he was there to help us mend. He spent time with us, talked with us, and knew us so well that we considered him part of our extended family.

Perhaps a key ingredient in fixing health care in the United States is encouraging more medical students to become Primary Care Physicians and allowing them to practice as modern day Dr. Spurgeons. The best way to control health care costs is to have educated and engaged citizens who work with their Primary Care Physicians to prevent or minimize medical problems - before they become major issues that require extensive and expensive treatments. Ergo, better care with lower costs.

Health insurance today compensates most doctors for fixing us once we are broken. A better approach is to help us stay un-broken by encouraging regular well-checkups with Primary Care Physicians that can detect early problems and nip them in the bud. If the “system” encourages preventive measures through regular primary care, the less we will need specialists and the higher costs often associated with them. Not that Primary Docs should become bureaucratic gatekeepers as in early HMO’s, but first line health advocates that work with specialists when the need arises.

Unfortunately, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) predicts a severe shortage of Primary Care Docs by 2020. This comes at time when we can least afford it as baby boomers will need more care and universal health coverage - in one form or another - will swell demand for primary care.

Now is the time to encourage more students to become Primary Care Physicians. It costs up to a quarter of a million dollars to get through medical school. Most students borrow the money so many are lured by the higher income that comes with specializing. Primary Care Docs earn far less than specialists, and when faced with crushing student loans and high start up costs, more and more are abandoning Primary Care as a career option.

I’m not a big believer in government programs, but reversing this trend will require incentives in two forms. First, Medical School should be FREE for all Primary Care majors who promise to stay in the field for at least a decade or work in high need areas for five years. Second, insurance coverage needs to compensate Primary Care Docs for keeping people well, not just treating them after they become ill.

These incentives will result in huge long term savings by changing our focus from post illness treatment to prevention. It will also increase the quality and frequency of primary care by re-establishing the most critical element of outstanding and effective health care – a close and personal doctor-patient relationship.

If you agree let your Representatives know as they are considering loan forgiveness programs for Primary Care Docs and are working on preventive care legislation.

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