Doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants at community clinics work long hours, treating multitudes of patients who often have more than one chronic illness. Sandeep Lehil, 28, and others like her at community clinics throughout the U.S. are key players in the push to lower the nation's healthcare spending. They conduct physicals, refill medications and manage chronic diseases for low-income patients, providing the care necessary to keep them from requiring more costly medical treatment. The jobs are demanding—providers spend long hours treating patients who have multiple chronic illnesses and often have gone years without care. Administrators have trouble finding enough doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants to staff their clinics.
