Geriatric Care: Substituting NP's for Physicians


 
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By Penny Smith

Substituting nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and nurses for physicians in healthcare for the aging population may achieve healthcare quality at least as good as care provided by physicians, according to a review of published studies.

The review assessed outcomes such as patient morbidity, mortality, satisfaction, and quality of life; quality of healthcare; provider workload and job satisfaction; medication use; and costs. Evidence from two randomized controlled trials showed no effect on approximately half of the outcomes and a positive effect on the other half of these outcomes. Evidence from eight studies with other comparative study designs supported most of the results of the randomized trials.

"Additional well-designed studies are needed to draw affirmative conclusions regarding quality of healthcare, costs and cost-effectiveness," wrote the authors of the review.


 
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Articles in this issue:

Masthead

  • Masthead

    Editor-in Chief:
    Kirsten Nicole

    Editorial Staff:
    Kirsten Nicole
    Stan Kenyon
    Robyn Bowman
    Kimberly McNabb
    Lisa Gordon
    Stephanie Robinson
     

    Contributors:
    Kirsten Nicole
    Stan Kenyon
    Liz Di Bernardo
    Cris Lobato
    Elisa Howard
    Susan Cramer

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