For decades, advocacy groups and professional societies have pushed for states to grant nurse practitioners full powers to practice. This will enable NPs to independently assess, diagnose and treat patients.
Before the pandemic, about half of U.S. states had granted NPs full authority to practice. Since then, more states have issued executive orders allowing NPs to take on more responsibilities during the pandemic — an emergency response designed to help meet new challenges.
We know that the pandemic has put enormous pressure on the healthcare system, pushing many physicians to their limits when there are already not enough physicians to meet demand. In addition, Covid-19 has exacerbated health inequalities in marginalized communities across the country, leading to disproportionately high mortality rates from the disease.
Taking these factors into consideration, there is no doubt that the demand for NPs with unique advantages to improve access to primary care will continue to increase in the coming year.
Primary care physician shortage will become more pronounced
There has been a shortage of primary care physicians in the U.S. for about two decades—a trend that shows no signs of slowing down for a number of reasons.
First, fewer and fewer medical students are choosing to enter primary care. Additionally, the current retirement rate for primary care physicians is higher than ever, with many opting to retire early due to burnout caused by the pandemic. It’s a vicious cycle: The increasing pressure on primary care physicians today leads to fewer people entering the profession and more leaving the field. If we continue down this path, there could be a shortage of about 121,300 primary care physicians in the United States by 2030.
While nurse practitioners have long been an important part of our healthcare system, there is now a huge opportunity for NPs to help stem this primary care shortage and provide patients with better opportunities for care.
As NPs enter the field, they choose to go into primary care rather than physicians. In fact, 89% of NPs are certified in primary care, and there are three times as many NPs now graduating in primary care as physicians.
Concerns about health disparities will intensify
The pandemic has exposed health inequities that disproportionately affect minorities.These inequalities make minority groups Increased risk of illness and death from Covid-19 and further emphasised the need for intervention. In the coming months, improving health equity will become a bigger topic than it is now, as more attention is focused on patients in underserved communities and remote areas.
But the real challenge for healthcare organizations will be developing and implementing tactical responses to the problem.
The shortage is most acute in rural communities, as most doctors choose to practice in metropolitan areas. NPs are ready, capable and willing to fill this void. In addition to being more likely than physicians to practice in rural and underserved communities, NPs also include a more diverse workforce that can better represent their patients. This helps remove specific language and cultural barriers that often prevent people from getting adequate care.
When discussing equity, it’s also important to recognize that the pandemic has accelerated the healthcare system’s migration to virtual care, which has greatly improved accessibility. For most patients, this means they can now seek care through a virtual visit via a mobile device.
This not only benefits those in rural and underserved communities who may face transportation problems, but also ensures that vulnerable groups and older people are cared for. As more NPs adopt telemedicine themselves and encourage their patients to do the same, the capabilities of telemedicine will only continue to expand.
NP’s full practice authority will continue to expand
State legislation is expanding the scope of practice for NPs, increasingly allowing them to practice independently. In more than 20 states, NPs are licensed with full authority to practice. They have reduced or limited practicing powers in the remaining states, but that is changing rapidly. For example, in California, NPs are expected to become fully independent in primary care starting in 2023.
In addition to more states moving toward full practice mandates, significant Covid-19 exposure risks continue to underscore the need for health plans and government agencies to implement new models of care to help provide better care for patients. This includes placing additional responsibilities on NPs who can assess, code, diagnose and prescribe medication like doctors.
As more states continue to expand licensing, NPs will naturally play a larger role. In addition to opening their own primary care practice, they are more involved in telehealth programs and home solutions. With this, we can expect to see an increase in the resources and tools available to help NPs in various ways, including business operations.
what will the future be like
It’s clear that NPs are in prime position to have a major impact on our health care system this year due to legislative changes, coupled with an ongoing physician shortage and a broad movement for health equity.
All things considered, this is going to be a big year for NP.
Photo: PixelsEffect, Getty Images
