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 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 […]
National Survey Shows Physician Involvement Is Preferred by Members of Care Team
As is standard practice in many states, physicians and nurse practitioners in North Carolina work together as part of a physician-led team. For decades, this team-based approach has delivered high-quality and safe patient care to North Carolinians. Although there is an effort to eliminate physician involvement, most members of the patient care team prefer the […]
Eliminating Physician Involvement in Care Would Increase Costs and Put Patient Safety at Risk
North Carolina’s current health care system is built on a team-based model that includes physician leadership—an approach designed to ensure high-quality care, improve outcomes, and control costs. APRN Definitions/SAVE Act (HB 514/SB 966) would remove physicians from the patient care team. This change raises serious concerns about both patient safety and the overall cost of […]
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 found the following views from patients about scope of practice: In a North Carolina […]
Costs of Eliminating Physician Involvement in Patient Care – Oppose APRN Definitions/SAVE Act
As health care costs remain a top concern for North Carolinians, some nursing advocates suggest that changing current law related to the patient care team would reduce costs. However, available data indicate the opposite: reducing physician involvement can increase utilization and drive higher overall health care spending. Proposals such as HB 514/SB 537 (APRN Definitions/SAVE […]
A Failed Industry Experiment in Health Care: The Risks of Overreliance on Nurse Practitioners
As policymakers evaluate potential changes to scope-of-practice laws, it is critical to ground those decisions in real-world outcomes—particularly in high-acuity settings where clinical decisions carry significant risk. A recent report from Bloomberg Businessweek, “What Happens When U.S. Hospitals Binge on Nurse Practitioners,” raises serious concerns about the growing reliance on nurse practitioners (NPs) to independently […]
Medical School Matters: The Most Powerful Prescription Is a Well-Trained Physician
High-quality health care depends on a team-based approach, with each provider contributing based on their education and training. While all professionals play important roles, there are significant differences in the preparation of physicians and nurse practitioners that matter for patient care. Education Physicians complete four years of medical school followed by three to seven years […]
NC Patient Safety Coalition
The North Carolina Patient Safety Coalition brings together medical professionals from across the state who are focused on protecting patients by ensuring continued access to physician-led care. As the 2026 legislative session gets underway, the NC Patient Safety Coalition remains committed to educating patients, lawmakers, and stakeholders on the importance of physician involvement in patient […]
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 […]