Advanced Practice Practitioners

Does Broad PA Scope of Practice Impact Patient Safety & Malpractice?

February 20, 2024 - A new study led by researchers affiliated with the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) showed that expanding physician assistant/associate (PA) scope of practice does not negatively impact patient safety, as measured by medical malpractice suits. In fact, the study, published in the Journal of Medical Regulation, showed that expanded...

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More Patients Visit NPs & PAs as Usual Source of Care, Primary Care

by Sara Heath

The landscape for people’s usual source of care is changing, with fewer people reporting a regular primary care provider, according to a Fast Facts report from the Employee Benefit Research...

Nurse Practitioners Predict Doc Shortages, Care Access to Loom in 2024

by Sara Heath

Provider shortages, appointment wait times, increasing patient demand, and a shift toward more primary care are top of mind for nurse practitioners going into this year, says the American Association...

A Quarter of Patients Face Two-Month Appointment Wait Times

by Sara Heath

Appointment wait times are reaching a boiling point, with new data from the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) pitching nurse practitioners themselves to fill in patient care access...

US Approach to Primary Care Access Struggles Is Disjointed

by Sara Heath

A new report from FAIR Health indicates that the United States is taking a patchwork approach to patient access to care and primary care, with the data showing variable reliance on advanced practice...

Full Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice Led to Greater Workforce Diversity

by Sarai Rodriguez

New research out of West Virginia University revealed that granting full nurse practitioner (NP) scope of practice can foster greater workforce diversity that reflects the demographic of patient...

Consumers Eye Primary Care Transition to Retail Clinics, Pharmacies

by Sara Heath

In five years, primary care access might not be defined by walking into a traditional brick-and-mortar clinic—not if consumers have anything to do about it, according to a new report commissioned...

States Weigh Laws for Nurse Practitioner Full Practice Authority

by Sara Heath

At the height of the pandemic, states across the nation issued executive orders granting nurse practitioner full practice authority, a temporary move that leaders said would help expand patient access...

Advanced Practice Providers Extend Patient Access to Mental Healthcare

by Sara Heath

Two studies published in the September 2022 issue of Health Affairs give credence to the expanded scope of practice for advanced practice providers, like nurse practitioners and physician assistants,...

Most Patients Back Expanded Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice

by Sarai Rodriguez

As more states consider expanding nurse practitioners (NP) scope of practice, a recent poll conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of CVS Health found that most patients want broader NP authority so...

Kansas Nurse Practitioners Gain Full Practice Authority

by Sarai Rodriguez

Kansas is the latest in an expanding number of states giving full practice authority to nurse practitioners (NPs), according to an announcement from Kansas Governor Laura Kelly. The bipartisan bill...

New York Legislation Expands Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice

by Sarai Rodriguez

New York Governor Kathy Hochul recently signed state legislation that will grant nurse practitioners (NPs) a wider scope of practice, eliminating previous barriers that would have limited patient...

Nurse Practice Authority Gains to Benefit Patient Access to Care

by Sara Heath

More states across the country are enabling full practice authority for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), according to new data in The Nurse Practitioner, which nursing leaders have...

How PAs, APPs Expand Patient Care Access, Patient Satisfaction

by Sara Heath

In her over 30 years as a physician assistant (PA), Dawn Morton-Rias, Ed.D, PA-C, has never had a patient decline her services and ask for a physician, although she’s sure to always make clear...

Nurse Practitioners Boost Patient Satisfaction, Quality Outcomes

by Sara Heath

Having more nurse practitioners as part of inpatient staff can help improve patient satisfaction while cutting healthcare costs and adverse outcomes, according to new data from the University of...

What Is the Role of Advanced Practice Practitioners in Patient Care?

by Sara Heath

As the medical industry shifts toward more team-based care, healthcare organizations need to seriously consider the role of advanced practice practitioners. Advanced practice practitioners (APPs)...

How Nurse Practitioners Can Put Health Disparities Work into Action

by Sara Heath

After a year of identifying and understanding how health disparities and social determinants of health are affecting patient outcomes, it’s time for the medical community to take action toward...

Relaxed Nurse Scope of Practice Boosts Care Access During COVID-19

by Hannah Nelson

Removing scope of practice barriers for nurse anesthetists during COVID-19 lead to increased care access, according to a study conducted by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA). CMS...

Mass. Law Expands Nurse Scope of Practice, Patient Access to Care

by Sara Heath

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker rang in the new year by signing state legislation that he said will improve patient access to care. An Act Promoting a Resilient Health Care System That Puts...

Nurse Practitioners Challenge AMA on Practice Authority, Care Access

by Sara Heath

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) has published an open letter to the American Medical Association (AMA), lambasting the group for its stance on nurse practitioner practice...