RT Journal
A1 Hauer KE, Durning SJ, Schwartz MD
T1 HEalth workforce planning and medical student career choice—reply
JF JAMA
JO JAMA
YR 2009
FD February 25
VO 301
IS 8
SP 824
OP 826
DO 10.1001/jama.2009.159
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.2009.159
AB 
In Reply: Dr Perkins recognizes the impending crisis in primary care delivery in the United States and proposes that a solution to the low interest in primary care careers among current medical students is for physicians to relinquish the role to nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Although one study with brief follow-up found that the clinical outcomes of care by nurse practitioners were equivalent for certain conditions compared with the care provided by physicians,1 a Cochrane Collaboration review advised caution because most studies were methodologically flawed and of short duration.2 We believe that it is premature and risky to generalize these limited results to the typical populations internists serve, with their multiple, complex, and chronic medical problems.