profession
AAFP to examine scope of practice
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Oct. 18, 2010
The American Academy of Family Physicians will study previous research comparing care offered by nurse practitioners and physicians.
The AAFP Congress of Delegates voted for the study during its meeting in Denver in September, said AAFP President Roland Goertz, MD. The academy will examine research on topics such as cost-effectiveness and outcomes of care between nurse practitioners and physicians. Researchers will analyze the results and evaluate their relevance to current health care practices. A time frame and funding for the study have yet to be determined.
The goal is to help settle long-running debates over scope-of-practice issues about what care should be provided by physicians compared with health professionals with less medical education and training, Dr. Goertz said. "It needs to be resolved in some way," he said.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2010/10/18/prbf1018.htm.
