Medicine

With little action being taken to deal with an increasing shortage of physicians, some say that expanding the scope-of-practice of advanced practice nurses can help fill the gap. Others insist that, in the long-term, the U.S. needs to ramp up production of both doctors and nurses.

Missed this when first reported? Despite a looming public health crisis, lawmakers have yet to seriously address the problem of physician supply. And because it takes a long time to train a doctor, the window to act is closing fast. Also see "Nurses to the rescue?" and "Recruiting of foreign doctors."

Proposals to address the U.S. physician shortage by relying on foreign doctors meet with concerns, both practical and ethical.

With little action being taken to deal with an increasing shortage of physicians, some say that expanding the scope-of-practice of advanced practice nurses can help fill the gap.

Despite looming public health crisis, lawmakers have yet to seriously address the problem.