Who are nonphysician primary care providers? What are their roles in the delivery of health care?
Answer: Nonphysician primary care providers include nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and certified nurse midwives. They play a critical role in the provision of health care, particularly primary care to underserved populations. NPs and PAs often give care equivalent to that provided by physicians. Moreover, NPs have been noted to have better communication and interviewing skills than physicians.
Clients are more satisfied with NPs than with physicians because NPs generally spend more time with the patients, express greater personal interest in patients, and provide care at less cost. CNMs are considered to be effective in providing access to obstetrical and prenatal services in rural and poor communities. Among the issues that need to be resolved before nonphysician primary care providers can be used fully are legal restrictions to practice, reimbursement policies, and relationships with physicians.