The "Doctor's Assistant"

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Abstract
Practicing physicians in Wisconsin were surveyed to determine attitudes toward the concept of "doctor's assistants" and the roles these assistants could fill in their practice. Thirty-two percent of the physicians responded. Of these, 61% believed that assistants are needed; 42% stated that they would use an assistant in their practice. Two types of assistants were identified. The "hospital technician's" duties would be to serve primarily as an assistant in the hospital's surgical areas; the "medical assistant's" duties would center in office practice settings and include taking medical histories, doing technical procedures, and assisting with health supervision. Existing programs train nonphysician midwives, anesthetists, and "corpsmen;" however, most responding physicians did not approve these duties for assistants. Different groups of physicians had markedly differing ideas concerning appropriate responsibilities for assistants. In planning educational programs for such ancillary personnel, it seems highly desirable to recognize these varying attitudes.

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