When I opened my practice 22 years ago, I shared space with an MD who had been in practice for decades. Although he specialized in cardiology, he basically served his patients as a family medicine practitioner, continuing a grand tradition of compassionate general healthcare. The patients trusted him implicitly and would consult him even on non-medical matters. He was always available when needed and would still make a house call. Late into his 80’s, the cardiologist finally retired, but for years, every now and again, one of his faithful patients would show up and stand in front of the empty office until being told that the clinic had closed.
Today, of course, general practice is very different. MD’s who still practice family medicine normally have very heavy patient loads that necessitate abbreviated appointments and lengthy wait times to get in to see the doctor. Much of general practice has been relegated to Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants—healthcare providers with significantly less formal training than is required of an MD. As as healthcare corporations have bought out our hospitals, urgent cares, and clinics, the economic incentive to employ an NP or PA at a third of the yearly salary of a Medical Doctor has led to a dramatic shift in hiring practices, while MD’s, bedraggled and burned out, have fled the profession in droves, unable to sustain an impossible workload. The beloved family doctor of decades past is now an endangered species.
Interestingly, many of our patients comment that their acupuncture sessions recall old school, mainstream medical family practice. In contrast to the MD’s who have now moved into group practices with shared facilities and large clinical and clerical support staffs, most Licensed Acupuncturists maintain modest, personable practices that create strong bonds between patient and practitioner. While many doctors now spend only 10 minutes or less with each patient, most acupuncture appointments last a generous hour, giving time not only for assessment and treatment, but also opportunity for patients to be heard. Finally, since traditional Chinese medicine diagnosis does not require lab tests or imaging, patients enjoy interacting firsthand with their acupuncturists who utilize observation, questioning, and physical exam to directly determine the best course of care.
Experts are predicting a future where urgent care clinics will replace our own personal doctors for general care services. Not only does this evolution of family practice promise to be dehumanizing, it will greatly impact the continuity of general care. Fortunately, for those patients who prefer a more traditional personal relationship with a healthcare provider, CAM practitioners in general, and Licensed Acupuncturists specifically, offer a reassuring alternative to walk-in services at an urgent care clinic.