[nradov]

What will probably happen in most US states is that physician education will continue to require residency. But routine primary care will increasingly shift to Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners. Real physicians should be reserved for the more complex cases.

[jmoak]

I agree with this as a possibility for general doctor visits.

I already mostly see NPs for my checkups. If they aren't sure, then I can jump through the hoops to get a Physician.

It works well and I get plenty of time to discuss things during my appointments.

EDIT: I still think my original point may stand for specialists however, we'll have to see how it shakes out and what healthcare systems under more stress than ours decide to do in the near future.

[s1artibartfast]

Exactly. If you create a regulatory system so strict that you cant make doctors, you end up with a shortage, and creating a new class of professionals that do what doctors did before.

I think there are parallels to nursing as well, with increasing credentialism and then creation of new classes. 30 years ago nurses entered the workforce with a 2 year associates from a junior college. Heck, my highschool had a nursing occupational program.