Pub. 3 2019 Issue 1

Dr. Nikki Clark | Continued from page 11 I think a really big realization is this: working harder won’t make it better. When we as physicians feel stressed and anxious, it’s time to refocus and take care of ourselves, so we can take great care of our patients. What is the most reward- ing part of your career? This is a two-part thing for me. Working as a member of the residency faculty, I still see patients. I love that I can cel- ebrate the best times with my patients and I have the honor of guiding them through the hardest times. It’s such a range of care, and I really like that. It’s up close and personal — I see the im- pact, firsthand, in what I do. As a fulltime faculty member, I get to teach brand new doctors and follow their growth as they become leaders within their field and their communities. Medical school teaches students the science of medicine, and a residency teaches them the art of being a doctor. It’s an exciting evolution — especially when your former student becomes your boss! I love teaching. Back when I was de- ciding on a career, teaching was right alongside medicine. What do you think will be some of the dominant trends within the medi- cal industry in the next 5–10 years? I think the business of medicine will be completely altered in many ways. As some patient conveniences emerge, like online RX and video conference ap- pointments, the concern would be for scattered care, especially with the per- ception of less access to primary care physicians. We are seeing a big growth in nurse practitioners and physician as- sistants — all of which we need — but the focus will need to be on how to work together, as a team, with the doctor as the team leader. There needs to be clar- ity between the differences of physi- cians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants and what they can and can’t do. We are NOT the same. I don’t like be- ing referred to as a “provider.” I didn’t go to “provider” school, I went to medical school: I am a physician. That being said, we’re on the upswing with medical students choosing family practice. By 2030, the AAFP has a goal that 25 percent of all medical students will choose to go into family medicine. Another big trend is the aging of our population. I’ve heard it called the “sil- ver tsunami,” and it will affect health care in all areas. For instance, years ago, the baby boomers were the top af- fected demographics for breast cancer, and billions went into research, treat- ment and cures. Today, the survival rate for breast cancer is higher that it has ever been. As the baby boomers are aging, they again are the affected de- mographic for geriatric illnesses, most notably Alzheimer’s and dementia. The baby boomers are the wealth genera- tion — they wield a great deal of money — and I believe that we will see billions pouring into research and treatment again for dementia related conditions. The question will be about who will pro- vide the care. I think it’s safe to say that many geriatric patients will be under the care of family physicians. Family medicine has been dubbed the “womb to tomb” specialty, so I think a great deal of the care of these patients will fall to family physicians. After 15 years in practice I went back and com- pleted a fellowship in geriatric medi- cine at Maine Medical Center in Port- land, ME. In the future I fully believe that we, as family physicians, will be stepping more into geriatric care. If you could wave a mag- ic wand, what would be the one thing you would like to see change im- mediately in the medical industry? I’m going to need more than one magic wand! I would like to see patient care be dictated by what is best for the patient, and not by the insurance in- dustry. Sometime in the 80s, insur- ance became a business, with profit margins and stockholders, and sadly, I think the patient part got lost. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve had to change a treatment plan because in- surance wouldn’t cover it — and that’s a big frustration for every doctor. I also think that electronic medical records need to be more doctor- centered. I’m optimistic that this is a fixable concern, but insurance and EMR systems don’t interface. Making the complete care picture available, a problem. What is the most impor- tant aspect of being a UAFP member? I believe it’s about having a voice. A united voice. Family medicine is a busy specialty, and it’s easy to be focused on our individual practices and patients. The UAFP represents us as a collec- tive group, and makes sure that our concerns get to the right ears. On a na- tional level, the AAFP has over 135,000 family physicians, and together we can accomplish so much more than we ever could alone. With the UAFP, we can be a part of the change we need in this industry, and on a level that fits. We can participate as we can, when we can, and we’re still effective because there’s a group. What inspired you to serve as a leader within the association? That would be more of a “who” than a “what”! I’ve been involved with the www.UtahAFP.org | 12