Oppose HB 514/SB 537: APRN Definitions (a.k.a. The SAVE Act). Keep Physicians Involved in Patient Care.
In medical school, physicians are taught that a core principle in treating patients is to “first do no harm.” This is a good principle for legislation as well. Unfortunately, HB 514/SB 537 – APRN Definitions/SAVE Act does not follow this guidance. This legislation would eliminate physician involvement in patient care. Essentially legislating the ability to […]
The SAVE Act Will Increase Health Care Costs & Reduce Patient Safety
Without physician involvement, North Carolina could see increased health care costs and an impact to patient safety. The SAVE Act will remove physicians from the patient care team, which could result in increased costs due to the overprescribing of medications and the overutilization of diagnostic imaging and other services by nurse practitioners (NPs). How do […]
What Do Patients Expect? Physician Involvement in Their Care.
Health care is about fixing a problem. Patients expect the most qualified person – physician experts with the training and education – to handle any unexpected situation. Patients expect physicians to be involved in their health care. A recent national survey performed by the American Medical Association found the following views from patients about scope […]
Costs of Eliminating Physician Involvement
Cost of health care is on the mind of many North Carolinians. Some in the nursing community argue that changing current law related to the patient care team would reduce costs. However, removing physicians from patient care would actually increase costs. A study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that nurse practitioners […]
A Failed Industry Experiment: The Overreliance on NPs in Health Care
In November 2024, Bloomberg Businessweek published an article titled “What Happens When U.S. Hospitals Binge on Nurse Practitioners” that documents how “the increasing reliance on ill-trained nurse practitioners is imperiling patients.” As stated in the article, “In effect, she was a part of an industry experiment testing whether nurse practitioners can do a physician’s job […]
The Miseducation of Nurse Practitioners – 60% of NP Programs are Online
As highlighted in the Bloomberg Businessweek article “The Miseducation of America’s Nurse Practitioners” from July 2024, the education and training for nurse practitioners (NPs) in the United States is varied and up to 60% of nurse practitioner programs are online. Over 2,000 licensed NPs in North Carolina received their NP training from 100% online programs. […]
Federal Study Proves Physician-Led Care Leads To Better Patient Care And Lower Costs
Physician-led care reduces cost and leads to better health outcomes. That’s the conclusion of a recent study of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) emergency departments. The federal study states, “compared to physicians, NPs [nurse practitioners] use more medical resources: They require longer lengths of stay and incur higher costs. However, they achieve less favorable patient outcomes, […]
Medical School Matters
Medical School Matters: The Most Powerful Prescription Is a Well-Trained Physician All qualified health care professionals play an important role in the delivery of health care in our state. Efficient delivery of health care requires a team-based approach with members of the health care team each playing their role. Roles are defined by one’s education […]
North Carolina Patient Safety Coalition
The North Carolina Patient Safety Coalition brings together medical professionals from across the state of North Carolina who are focused on protecting patients by ensuring continued access to physician-led care. The NC Patient Safety Coalition educates patients, lawmakers, and others about the cost and quality of care physicians provide by leading the patient care team. […]
Cost of Health Care: Federal Study Proves Physician-Led Medical Care Leads To Better Patient Care And Lower Costs Compared To Care Provided By Nurse Practitioners
Physician-led care reduces cost and leads to better health outcomes. That’s the conclusion of a study of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) emergency departments. The federal study states, “compared to physicians, NPs [nurse practitioners] use more medical resources: They require longer lengths of stay and incur higher costs. However, they achieve less favorable patient outcomes, as […]