What We’re Achieving, Together
PPP supporters successfully educated legislators on the importance of physician-led care.
Ethics complaints from PPP resulted in the withdrawal of a publication by the University of Pennsylvania purporting that radiology technicians could read a chest xray ‘as well’ as a radiology resident – “Radiology Extenders: Impact on Throughput and Accuracy for Routine Chest Radiographs” – PPP pointed out the FLAWED study to the Vice Provost for Research of the multiple issues with the study. More information.
PPP action resulted in a correction issued to Mary Mundinger’s 2000 JAMA Study. PPP highlighted Mary Mundinger’s conflict of interest (serving on the Board of UnitedHealth Group during a study promoting NP independent practice) was not noted at publication nor afterward. After Board member Phil Shaffer and several colleagues sent a letter to JAMA, the journal issued a correction, noting Mundinger’s potential conflict of interest—more than 20 years after the original publication = Disclosure Updated. JAMA. 2022;327(2):185. doi:10.1001/jama.2021.23340. More information.
Educating the public: So far in 2023, 10 broadcast tv, radio and print media interviews with viewership of 157,124,600 online impressions and 157,188,244 media impressions. In 2022, PPP physicians have appeared in 35 interviews with viewership of 279,671,800 online impressions and 281,599,276 media impressions (this year there was more local focus). In 2021 there were 27 interviews with broadcast tv, radio and print media with viewership of 676,662,699 online and 766,147,440 media impressions.
Browse our updated PPP website pages “In the News” featuring the multitude of public relations articles and press coverage achieved by PPP
Topics & Insights featuring many physicians blogs.
Physician Resources including Find a Physician, a newly developed platform intended to help patients and physicians find physician-led care.
Share Your Stories designed to serve as a private clearinghouse of stories reported online anonymously by our official supporters and others related to non-physician practitioners practicing without adequate physician involvement, whether by their own choosing or not.
Access to recorded educational programs, Webinars and Town Hall Sessions with the Board for official supporters only!
An annual education session with CME credit and lots of opportunities for networking and open discussion of issues
Webinars on topics – examples including:
Medico-Legal Aspects of Supervising Non-Physician Practitioners?
Physician Whistleblowers and the False Claims Act
Role of the Medical Staff in Patient Protection
Do we Need a Flexner Report for Non-Physician Practitioners?
Making a Difference
AMA President Town Hall with PPP to enhance focus on SOP.
Virtual Press Conference with invited media from across the country addressing legislators and need for SOP education and training standards.
Communication to Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine expressing concern of the MSU COM plan to train physician assistant students “synergistically” with Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine students in training programs.
Tracking and communicating individual state legislative issues brought to our attention by our official supporters and by our monitoring of state activity and legislative alerts sent to official supporters in the impacted state encouraging personal advocacy.
- 26 so far in 2023
- 78 in 2022
- 103 in 2021
- We relay on our official supporters to monitor bills in their state through their state medical and specialty societies news and report bills numbers and sponsors to us.
Creation of model legislation for members looking to introduce truth/transparency bills in states.
Resources on how to actively engage legislators on issues of interest.
Significant use of social media on issues related to PPP mission of physician-led care and truth and transparency in healthcare.
Working with Author Rebekah Bernard and her two books “Patients at Risk” and the sequel “Imposter Doctors”.
- Highlighting various speakers expanding on the scope of practice, truth and transparency messaging using real life experiences on PPP website. See: Patients at Risk.
- Promotion of both the follow up audio and video recordings from various book sections and additional interviews as the PPP mission evolves.
Correction issued to Mary Mundinger’s 2000 JAMA Study PPP highlighted Mary Mundinger’s conflict of interest (serving on the Board of UnitedHealth Group during a study promoting NP independent practice) was not noted at publication nor afterward. After Board member Phil Shaffer and several colleagues sent a letter to JAMA, the journal issued a correction, noting Mundinger’s potential conflict of interest—more than 20 years after the original publication. More information.
Continuing petitions to Congress to increase the Cap on Graduate Medical Education spots to address the physician shortage and stem the tide of replacing physicians with APPs. Success with leaders mentoring unmatched medical students with coaching for interviews.
Commentary on the negative effects of the AAPA proposal for name change from Physician Assistants to Physician Associates
Letter January 2023 to US Attorney Southern District of Florida commenting on the results of “Operation Nightingale”, a seven-year investigation exposing a massive nursing diploma scheme in which 7,600 nursing students were impacted. PPP’s letter stated:
- On behalf of Physicians for Patient Protection, we support the vital role that nurses play in caring for patients and are alarmed by the rise in both individuals and educational institutions in the nursing profession willing to place shortcuts and profits above patient care. We commend the Justice Department on their exposure of this scheme and hope that the individuals involved will face appropriate consequences.
- While we are reassured by the expedient inquiry into this fraudulent scheme, we remain concerned by the proliferation of for-profit nurse practitioner schools, many of which advertise being 100% online and/or having 100% acceptance rates. There is little oversight of clinical experiences, with frequent reports of students falsifying their clinical hours in order to meet graduation requirements. Nurse practitioners have lobbied aggressively for the right to practice medicine without supervision; this enormous responsibility demands appropriately supervised training and education. We encourage the Justice Department and other appropriate legal and regulatory bodies to investigate for-profit nurse practitioner diploma mills.
Continuing efforts to increase PATIENT awareness of identification of those who are treating them and encouraging them by “Its OK to Ask” billboards, wallet cards and promotional material, focus for social media.
In many states over the last three years, many legislative proposals to expand SOP have been defeated, withdrawn or sent back to sponsors due to PPP member advocacy. To report legislative proposals use this form: See it First : Help Us Track Legislative Proposals.
Success with Media Public Relations
PPP has been able to talk to journalists and news consumers across the country. It’s central to our mission. Media appearances are a fantastic way to tell the public and other healthcare professionals about the importance of patient protection. We’re delivering a clear warning that eroding physician-led healthcare is dangerous. And our audience is listening.
How big is our audience reach?
So far in 2023, 10 broadcast tv, radio and print media interviews with viewership of 157,124,600 online impressions and 157,188,244 media impressions
In 2022, PPP physicians have appeared in 35 interviews with viewership of 279,671,800 online impressions and 281,599,276 media impressions (this year there was more local focus).
In 2021 there were 27 interviews with broadcast tv, radio and print media with viewership of 676,662,699 online and 766,147,440 media impressions (this year was more national focus).
That’s a lot of people to reach. But it’s not enough. We’re not stopping. With your continued support and engagement, we’ll continue appearing on TV, radio, in print, and across leading online news platforms to defend patient safety and the physician-led model.
Other Significant media and print attention to the messaging in Patients at Risk including
- Jake Novak with CNBC Editorial
- NEWSNATION INVESTIGATION – a significant national news special report and interviews of transparency in health care after deaths by inappropriate care by APPs
Dialogue with AANP directly quoting “we practice healthcare” and attempts to block the airing of the NEWSNATION INVESTIGATION.