Keep Physicians on your Healthcare Team
Do you know who is leading your healthcare team?
The Maine Partnership for Expert Care helps patients understand the roles of different medical practitioners, how they collaborate to deliver the best care, and why the unique qualifications that physicians have make them the most qualified to lead the healthcare team.
A Psychiatrist’s Perspective
Jeffrey Barkin, MD, a Portland, Maine-based psychiatrist, explains the difference between physicians (MDs or DOs) and other clinicians on a care team and shares tips for patients to learn who is leading their healthcare teams.
Imagine an orchestra without a conductor.
In an orchestra, talented musicians come together to create a symphony, with the help of the conductor who ensures a beautiful performance. Much like an orchestra conductor, a physician leads the healthcare team to make sure patients get the best care.
9 in 10 Maine people want a physician to lead their care.
93% of Maine people think it is important to have a physician involved in diagnosis and treatment decisions. (Forbes Tate, January-February 2021) When non-physician providers practice independently, doctors are often not involved in important healthcare decisions.
“Having been a physician assistant (PA) and then a nurse practitioner (NP) prior to becoming a physician, I feel that I have a unique perspective. When I practiced in those roles, the patient understood that I was not a doctor, but that I had access to a doctor for consultations when needed. Both PAs and NPs contribute significantly to the delivery of healthcare and need to be commended and respected for that, but consulting with a physician is a necessary part of making sure that the patient gets the best of care.”
— Adele L. Carroll, D.O.
Know who is leading your healthcare team.
Subscribe to our e-mail list to receive periodic messages and updates.