Perspectives of Physicians and Nurse Practitioners on Primary Care Practice

In this national survey, primary care physicians were more likely than primary care nurse practitioners to believe that physicians provide a higher quality of care than nurse practitioners and were less likely to believe that physicians and nurse practitioners should be paid equally for the same services. The U.S. health care system is at a critical juncture in health care workforce planning. The nation has an acknowledged shortage of primary care physicians at a time when the population is aging and the incidence and prevalence of chronic illnesses are increasing. The implementation of the Affordable Care Act will provide millions of previously uninsured Americans with the means to purchase health insurance and access health care services. 1 – 3 The combination of increased demand and provider shortages has led policymakers to consider increasing the supply of nurse practitioners and broadening their roles in the provision of primary care. 4 , . . .