Our office utilizes what are called Mid-Level Providers to help increase the access to Healthcare Services. We have 2 Family Physicians in our office, but let's face it, there are only so many appointments each day to meet with the doctor. Our practice got so busy a few years ago, that we hired a Penny Dabney, a Nurse Practitioner, to meet the need for same-day appointments and to do routine health screenings including PAP smears and well child examinations, wart treatments and other lesion removals. She works independently under the supervision of a physician in our office. It was such a tremendous success, that we later hired second type of Mid-Level Provider called a Physician Assistant to help Penny have openings as well. A PA degree is another mid-level provider that can work independently with physician supervision and has medication/lab order/imaging prescribing priveledges just like a NP. With the expansion of Healthcare benefits under the Affordable Healthcare Act, Mid-Level Providers like Penny will play a very important role in getting people into the healthcare system and keeping costs down. Some of my patients complained initially about not being able to see their physician, but most have been won over by our NP and PA in the office and have no problem being seen by one of them instead of me if I'm not available for a few days or out of the office.
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