Physician-Led, Team-Based Care
With 30 million more Americans able to access health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act, the demand for high quality and efficient primary care will increase dramatically. This, combined with a shortage of primary care professionals and an aging population, will place tremendous stress on our primary care system. Some say the best way to solve the primary care shortage is with independent practicing nurse practitioners, claiming they can be trained cheaper and faster, and paid less. While all health professionals are crucial members of the patient’s health care team, the roles of team members are not interchangeable.
Each member of the professional health care team plays a vital role in ensuring that patients have access to care that is comprehensive, preventive, efficient and most importantly, effective. Physician-led care teams are the best answer to alleviating health care access issues. Patients need to get the right care from the right professional at the right time, but at all times, the expertise and deep clinical training of the primary care physician is the foundation.
Below are some helpful resources that advocate for physician-led, team-based care:
American Academy of Family Physicians Resources
- Scope of Practice Webpage
- Primary Care for the 21st Century: Ensuring a Quality Physician-Led Team for Every Patient
- Primary Care for the 21st Century Info Graphic
- Scope of Practice Kit
Robert Graham Center Resource
Additional Resources
Additional Information
- Lame-Duck Session Wrap-Up (Weekly Family Medicine Update, December 13, 2016)
- OAFP Objects to Expanding Scope of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (Weekly Family Medicine Update, December 13, 2016)
- OAFP Signs onto Letter Opposing HB 548 (Weekly Family Medicine Update, November 15, 2016)
- APRN Legislation Passes House (Weekly Family Medicine Update, May 31, 2016)
- Thank You for Responding to Our Alert – Independent Practice for Psych APRNs is Out of HB 216 (Weekly Family Medicine Update, May 24, 2016)
- Urgent Request – Stop Independent Practice for Psych APRNs (Weekly Family Medicine Update, May 17, 2016)
- Concerns Remain with New Version of HB 216 (Weekly Family Medicine Update, May 10, 2016)
- Dr. Bachelder’s Editorial Opposing APRN Independent Practice Published in Akron Beacon Journal (Weekly Family Medicine Update, February 16, 2016)
- Medical Professionals Express Opposition to House Bill 216 (Weekly Family Medicine Update, February 16, 2016)
- Letter to Editor and Op-Ed Opposing APRN Independent Practice Appear in Ohio Newspapers (Weekly Family Medicine Update, February 9, 2016)
- Proponent Testimony on APRN Independent Practice Bill Scheduled for Tomorrow; Contact Your Legislator (Weekly Family Medicine Update, January 19, 2016)
- Urgent: Call House Health Members Now to Oppose APRN Independent Practice (Weekly Family Medicine Update, January 12, 2016)