Bill could ease doctor shortage [OH]
Posted almost 10 years ago by Nicholas M Perrino
"Supporters say legislation changing nursing practices could improve access to care and bring jobs to Ohio.
House Bill 216, also known as the APRN Modernization Bill, was introduced in the House in May. It would allow advanced practice registered nurses, or APRNs, to work independently from physicians.
The bill is a possible solution to what the nurses' group calls the physician shortage.
In 10 years, the Association of American Medical Colleges estimates the United States will have 90,000 fewer physicians than the population needs.
The Ohio Academy of Family Physician warned against the bill in a letter to the House Health Committee this summer. The authors wrote that studies — used by proponents to back up their claims about the bill making health care more accessible and affordable while maintaining or improving quality of care — are shaky.
'Some APNs have publicly stated that they can 'do everything a physician can do,'' read the letter from the Ohio Academy of Family Physician. 'Clearly, APNs have a valuable role in care for patients, but it is our belief that the education and training of physicians and APRNs are substantially different, and that physicians and nurses are not interchangeable.'
...there are 40 to 50 years of research suggesting advanced nurses equally capable in providing care.
'The evidence in the literature shows no variation in the level of care provided by APRNs compared to physicians,' Lahl added in an email. 'APRNs provide high quality, safe care focusing on the patient and their family.'"