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FEATURE

THE VIRTUOUS MISSION:

Exploring the Bioethical Obligation of Interprofessional Healthcare

By Ammar Navid Saigal, MPH, MD Candidate (2018)

The global medical landscape continues to evolve toward interdis- unfortunate competition among physicians and mid-level practition-
ciplinary patient care out of necessity. The World Health Organiza- ers with respect to overlapping patient management. This essay seeks
tion warns of the public health burden that will be experienced by to provide insight into the mutual bioethical obligation between these
billions due to the projected shortage of approximately 13 million two types of health professionals by analyzing sources of discord
health workers by the year 2035. [1] Healthcare systems around the stemming from this heterogeneous clinical arrangement. Recogniz-
world must employ multilateral strategies to palliate the growing need ing this obligation and defining clinical responsibilities will allow
for medical professionals. One increasingly common strategy is the providers of all levels to coordinate the provision of their services
with maximal efficiency. Considering the growing need for access to
integration of physician and mid-level provider services in medi- health services, it is critical that mutual respect and collaborative ef-
cine. There are numerous practical benefits of doctors working to- ficiency be established. Recognizing this reality is a necessary part
gether with nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other allied of the virtuous mission that physicians and mid-level providers alike
health specialists. However, this workplace arrangement can create

26 San Antonio Medicine • October 2017