Are specialties like radiology and anesthesiology becoming obsolete?

Question

Are specialties like anesthesiology, radiology, and family medicine becoming obsoete because technology is eliminating the need for them (esp radiology), and other areas of medicine are taking business away from them (like some surgeons that are starting to read their own x-rays etc).

Also, CRNA's are starting to administer anesthetic, and nurse practitioners are starting to write prescriptions at a fraction of the cost of physicians. Does this mean the end of these specialties? Thats what I heard. I also heard that they would become less popular with students, and that their incomes would drop. nasty

Answer 1

Are you kidding?

Anesthesiology has already been explained by the poster above quite well - it is an extremely difficult job with an incredible level of responsibility (you know, the life of the patient on the table) and requires a great deal of education and determination and skill.

As for radiology, we cannot even imagine how many diagnostic tools there are out there, and new ones are coming out every day! Radiology is one of the highest-paid professions in medicine, also with a lot of responsibility! You may have someone who can read an x-ray, but there are also ultrasound, MRI, fMRI, CT, PET; MRI alone has many ways of imaging, each showing different results (depending on what you are looking for) and doctors rely on radiologists for reports on diagnostic scans.

These professions will NEVER become obsolete, it is stupid to think they ever will. As technology grows, the need for these professions increases, if anthing!!

And, speaking from personal experience, anesthesiology and radiology are actually rather popular among students.

Answer 2

In short, no.

Surgeons may read their patients x-rays, but they still rely on radiologists.

Anesthesia, like virtually any other field of medicine, is not simply a matter of "If A, then B". Judgment & experience ply a HUGE part.

The PAs & NPs I've met have no desire, with a rare exception, to be independent practitioners.

As for "My family will be seen by physicians", I have to chuckle. Percentage wise, there are just as many incompetent MD/DOs as there are PAs or NPs.

The use of PAs or NPs is designed to free up the physician to do more of the things that require their training & skills.

If a family member had a cold leg from lack of blood, which scenario would you prefer:

1) wait for the surgeon to get out of the OR in 1 - 2 hours OR

2) Be seen by his/her PA who eases their pain and gets the patient ready for the OR. Surgeon arrives, spends 10 minutes reviewing the case, and it's off to the OR.

Answer 3

Asking this one again, are you?

No, those specialties are NOT becoming obsolete, and your question shows that you know very little about either of those specialties.

I can speak better to the anesthesia side, as I am an anesthesiologist.  

Anesthesia is NOT a formulaic specialty that a robot can perform.  It is a mixture of science and art, where we use a combination of medications, hand holding, intuition and clinical judgment to care for patients.  CRNAs can do much of what we do, but as someone who medically directs CRNAs, I can tell you that they rely on physicians more than they'd like to admit.

There are many instances where I have to step in and intubate patients, substitute different drugs than what the CRNA was planning to use, take over the spinal if the CRNA can't get it, etc.

Mid-level providers are also starting to be sued, just like physicians have been.  It's only a matter of time until they pay the same malpractice rates that we do.

It's also a fallacy that mid-levels work at a "fraction of the cost of physicians".  Insurance companies pay the same - usually with the mid-levels, there is an employer who is pocketing the difference.  The cost to the patient is the same.

If you want to go to an unsupervised mid-level practitioner, that's your choice.  There are stories that every physician can tell about how their limited education and training shows eventually.  You'll get what you pay for.  If you want Wal-Mart medicine, more power to you.  My family will be seen by physicians, and I'm willing to pay for that level of care.