Re: Calling all doctors (News, June 29)
I read with interest your piece on the apparent shortage of physicians to provide primary health care in Greater Victoria.
Indeed, we need more primary care providers, and physicians are not the only ones who can fill that role.
Nurse practitioners (NPs) have proven over 40-plus years that: 1) their patient outcomes are at least as good as that of physicians, 2) patients are better able to manage their chronic illness and 3) patients like care provided by NPs.
The best primary health care is provided by teams of equals, each contributing their special knowledge and skills to promote the health of all our patients.
Rita Schreiber
Nurse Practitioner Program co-ordinator,
University of Victoria School of Nursing
