On behalf of the Coalition for Patients’ Rights, a national coalition of more than 35 health care organizations, I applaud Dr. Susman’s editorial on NP– family physician collaboration (“It’s time to collaborate—not compete—with NPs,” J Fam Pract. 2010;59:672). As our nation searches for ways to ensure quality and access to care for all, we believe that an interdisciplinary approach across professions is in the best interest of Americans.
Positive voices like Dr. Susman’s are an important part of advancing the dialogue.
Maureen E. Shekleton, PhD, RN, FAAN
Coalition for Patients’ Rights
I started my career with the Indian Health Service, where NPs have worked for many years with MDs. Currently I am with a community health center with too few physicians to see all the patients; we have 4 MDs and 3 NPs. Successful collaboration requires that clinics make decisions about the following:
- Will the NP see urgent care patients primarily—or treat chronic care patients who need lots of education to get their glucose under control, say, or stop smoking?
- Will the NP do routine physicals and leave complex issues for the doctor, or will the MD do all the physicals so that nothing is missed?
- Will the NP practice like an independent provider (within state laws), or team up with an MD and share the caseload?
It’s time to move past “should we work with NPs?” and into “how can we best work with NPs?”
Lindley Gifford, MD
Hyannis, Mass