Beyond the Clinic Family Medicine on a Mission Part 1: How Air Force Physicians Achieve Humanitarian Goals Read Family Medicine on a Mission Part 1: How Air Force Physicians Achieve Humanitarian Goals
Phoenix Newsletter - March 2025 President’s Message: ABFM’s Unwavering Commitment to Diplomates and the Specialty Read President’s Message: ABFM’s Unwavering Commitment to Diplomates and the Specialty
Home Research Research Library Scope of Practice and Patient Panel Size of Family Physicians Who Work With Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants Scope of Practice and Patient Panel Size of Family Physicians Who Work With Nurse Practitioners or Physician Assistants 2019 Author(s) Dai, Mingliang, Ingham, R C, and Peterson, Lars E Topic(s) Role of Primary Care, and What Family Physicians Do Keyword(s) Teams Volume Family Medicine Source Family Medicine BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Little is known about how the presence of nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) in a practice impacts family physicians’ (FPs’) scope of practice. This study sought to examine variations in FPs’ practice associated with NPs and PAs. METHODS: We obtained data from American Board of Family Medicine practice demographic questionnaires completed by FPs who registered for the Family Medicine Certification Examination during 2013-2016. Scope of practice score was calculated for each FP, ranging from 0-30 with higher numbers equating to broader scope of practice. FPs self-reported patient panel size. Primary care teams were classified into NP only, PA only, both NP and PA, or no NP or PA. We estimated variation in scope and panel size with different team configurations in regression models. RESULTS: Of 27,836 FPs, nearly 70% had NPs or PAs in their practice but less than half (42.5%) estimated a panel size. Accounting for physician and practice characteristics, the presence of NPs and/or PAs was associated with significant increases in panel sizes (by 410 with PA only, 259 with NP only and 245 with both; all P<0.05) and in scope score (by 0.53 with PA only, 0.10 with NP only and 0.51 with both; all P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: We found evidence that team-based care involving NPs and PAs was associated with higher practice capacity of FPs. Working with PAs seemed to allow FPs to see a greater number of patients and provide more services than working with NPs. Delineation of primary care team roles, responsibilities and boundaries may explain these findings. Read More ABFM Research Read all 2013 The primary care extension program: a catalyst for change Go to The primary care extension program: a catalyst for change 2017 Training Family Medicine Residents to Perform Home Visits: A CERA Survey Go to Training Family Medicine Residents to Perform Home Visits: A CERA Survey 2013 Relying on NPs and PAs Does Not Avoid the Need for Policy Solutions for Primary Care Go to Relying on NPs and PAs Does Not Avoid the Need for Policy Solutions for Primary Care 2020 Primary Care Spending in the United States, 2002-2016 Go to Primary Care Spending in the United States, 2002-2016
Author(s) Dai, Mingliang, Ingham, R C, and Peterson, Lars E Topic(s) Role of Primary Care, and What Family Physicians Do Keyword(s) Teams Volume Family Medicine Source Family Medicine
ABFM Research Read all 2013 The primary care extension program: a catalyst for change Go to The primary care extension program: a catalyst for change 2017 Training Family Medicine Residents to Perform Home Visits: A CERA Survey Go to Training Family Medicine Residents to Perform Home Visits: A CERA Survey 2013 Relying on NPs and PAs Does Not Avoid the Need for Policy Solutions for Primary Care Go to Relying on NPs and PAs Does Not Avoid the Need for Policy Solutions for Primary Care 2020 Primary Care Spending in the United States, 2002-2016 Go to Primary Care Spending in the United States, 2002-2016
2013 The primary care extension program: a catalyst for change Go to The primary care extension program: a catalyst for change
2017 Training Family Medicine Residents to Perform Home Visits: A CERA Survey Go to Training Family Medicine Residents to Perform Home Visits: A CERA Survey
2013 Relying on NPs and PAs Does Not Avoid the Need for Policy Solutions for Primary Care Go to Relying on NPs and PAs Does Not Avoid the Need for Policy Solutions for Primary Care
2020 Primary Care Spending in the United States, 2002-2016 Go to Primary Care Spending in the United States, 2002-2016