[retortio]

GP's really should go away. We need specialists and technicians to perform tests when necessary.

Medical training for everyone but surgeons should not take more than 5 total years including undergrad. Arbitrary number, but it should be significantly less time than it takes now.

Technicians who can be trained on specific technologies (x-ray, ultrasound, etc) should be able to handle most cases.

Medical treatment in the US today is a horribly inefficient hybrid of old and new.

[alistairSH]

This is the role that physician's assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) fill at most large family practices in the US. I haven't seen an actual MD for a physical or sore throat in many years. And my communication with the practice is with a PA. Same for my wife, who has an in-house clinic at her employer (not in the medical field, just a perk).