PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Physician shortage could be cut by new primary care models, study finds

2013-11-05
(Press-News.org) Contact information: Warren Robak
robak@rand.org
310-451-6913
RAND Corporation
Physician shortage could be cut by new primary care models, study finds Much of the shortage of primary care physicians expected over the next decade could be eliminated if the nation increases use of new models of medical care that expand the role of nurse practitioners and physician assistants, according to a new RAND Corporation study.

Expansion of patient-centered medical homes and nurse-managed health centers could help eliminate 50 percent or more of the primary care physician shortage expected to face the U.S. by 2025, according to findings published in the November edition of the journal Health Affairs.

"Growing use of new models of care that depend more on nonphysicians as primary care providers could do much to reduce the nation's looming physician shortage," said David Auerbach, the study's lead author and a policy analyst at RAND, a nonprofit research organization. "But achieving this goal may require changes in policy, such as laws to expand the scope of practice for nurse practitioners and physician assistants, and changes in acceptance, on the part of providers and patients, of new models of care."

Forecasts suggest that as more Americans seek health services once they become newly insured under the Affordable Care Act, physician shortages could worsen. Prominent groups have projected shortages of primary care physicians as high as 45,000 physicians by 2025. Those forecasts do not account for changes in how primary care is delivered, however.

Both patient-centered medical homes and nurse-managed health centers are models of primary care that use a mix of medical providers that is richer in nurse practitioners and physician assistants than today's predominant models of delivering medical care.

Medical homes typically use a team-based approach that incorporates physicians, advance practice nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, nutritionists and other health professionals. They now account for about 15 percent of primary care nationally.

Nurse-managed health centers provide a full range of primary care and some specialty services. They are managed and operated by nurses, with nurse practitioners functioning as the primary care providers. The clinics now account for only 0.5 percent of primary care and typically are affiliated with an academic health center.

If medical homes expand to deliver nearly half of primary care, the nation's expected physician shortage would fall by 25 percent, according to the RAND study. If nurse-managed health centers expand to account for 5 percent of primary care, the doctor shortage would fall by another 25 percent.

Researchers say those growth rates are plausible under the Affordable Care Act. The use of medical homes has been growing rapidly and the Affordable Care Act provides up to $50 million to support nurse-managed health centers.

But there also are obstacles to wider adoption of the approaches, according to the study. State laws may need to be changed to widen the scope-of-practice for both nurse practitioners and physician assistants so they can fill a wider role in primary care.

In addition, there is a need for medical assistants, licensed practical nurses and aides to perform key functions in the new care models, as well as new payment approaches that reward providers for moving to efficient and effective modes of care.

### Support for the study was provided by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Donaghue Foundation. Other authors of the study are Dr. Peggy G. Chen, Dr. Mark W. Friedberg and Christopher Lauk of RAND, Dr. Rachel Reid of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Peter I. Buerhaus of Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, and Dr. Ateev Mehrotra of the Harvard Medical School and RAND.

RAND Health is the nation's largest independent health policy research program, with a broad research portfolio that focuses on health care costs, quality and public health preparedness, among other topics.


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Women and African-Americans at higher risk of heart attack from atrial fibrillation

2013-11-05
Women and African-Americans at higher risk of heart attack from atrial fibrillation WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., – Nov. 4, 2013 – Doctors have known for years that atrial fibrillation (AF), or irregular heartbeat, increases the risk for stroke, but now researchers ...

Electronic and Internet health tools may decrease in-person physician visits

2013-11-05
Electronic and Internet health tools may decrease in-person physician visits Will the growing use of health information technology (IT) and electronic-health (e-health) applications impact the future demand for physicians? ...

New test may predict severe high blood pressure during pregnancy

2013-11-05
New test may predict severe high blood pressure during pregnancy American Heart Association Rapid Access Journal Report A new test that checks the level of a placental protein could help doctors determine if a woman will develop a severe form of high blood ...

Clinical trial indicates gabapentin is safe and effective for treating alcohol dependence

2013-11-05
Clinical trial indicates gabapentin is safe and effective for treating alcohol dependence LA JOLLA, CA – November 4, 2013 – The generic drug gabapentin, which is already widely prescribed for epilepsy and some kinds of pain, appears to be safe and effective in ...

Astronomers answer key question: How common are habitable planets?

2013-11-05
Astronomers answer key question: How common are habitable planets? Based on Kepler data, 1 in 5 sun-like stars has Earth-size planet in habitable zone ...

Elusive bay cat caught on camera

2013-11-05
Elusive bay cat caught on camera First time 5 species of wild cat spotted in a Borneo forest The world's least known cat has been caught on camera in a previously unsurveyed rainforest by scientists from the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and Imperial ...

New strep throat risk score brings patient data and big data together to potentially reduce unnecess

2013-11-05
New strep throat risk score brings patient data and big data together to potentially reduce unnecess Boston, Mass., November 4, 2013 –A new risk measure called a "home score" could save a patient with symptoms of strep throat a trip to the doctor, ...

Race and romance online

2013-11-05
Race and romance online Study of internet dating suggests racial barriers can be overcome Usually, research findings on the state of U.S. race relations are pretty bleak. But a study of online dating by UC San Diego sociologist Kevin Lewis suggests ...

Overhaul of medical education to address primary care physician shortage recommended by national panel

2013-11-05
Overhaul of medical education to address primary care physician shortage recommended by national panel Blue Ribbon Commission for the Advancement of Osteopathic Medical Education issues ...

UCSF researchers offer solutions to looming health-care provider shortage

2013-11-05
UCSF researchers offer solutions to looming health-care provider shortage Authors say increasing scope of practice for non-physician health professionals will increase coverage Thanks to a wave of aging baby boomers, epidemics of diabetes ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Osteoporosis treatment benefits people older than 80

Consuming more protein may protect patients taking anti-obesity drug from muscle loss

Thyroid treatment may improve gut health in people with hypothyroidism

Combination of obesity medication tirzepatide and menopause hormone therapy fuels weight loss

High blood sugar may have a negative impact on men’s sexual health

Emotional health of parents tied to well-being of children with growth hormone deficiency

Oxytocin may reduce mood changes in women with disrupted sleep

Mouse study finds tirzepatide slowed obesity-associated breast cancer growth

CMD-OPT model enables the discovery of a potent and selective RIPK2 inhibitor as preclinical candidate for the treatment of acute liver injury

Melatonin receptor 1a alleviates sleep fragmentation-aggravated testicular injury in T2DM by suppression of TAB1/TAK1 complex through FGFR1

Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals Shen-Bai-Jie-Du decoction retards colorectal tumorigenesis by regulating the TMEM131–TNF signaling pathway-mediated differentiation of immunosuppressive dendritic ce

Acta Pharmaceutica Sinica B Volume 15, Issue 7 Publishes

New research expands laser technology

Targeted radiation offers promise in patients with metastasized small cell lung cancer to the brain

A high clinically translatable strategy to anti-aging using hyaluronic acid and silk fibroin co-crosslinked hydrogels as dermal regenerative fillers

Mount Sinai researchers uncover differences in how males and females change their mind when reflecting on past mistakes

CTE and normal aging are difficult to distinguish, new study finds

Molecular arms race: How the genome defends itself against internal enemies

Tiny chip speeds up antibody mapping for faster vaccine design

KTU experts reveal why cultural heritage is important for community unity

More misfolded proteins than previously known may contribute to Alzheimer’s and dementia

“Too much going on”: Autistic adults overwhelmed by non-verbal social cues

What’s driving America’s deep freezes in a warming world?

A key role of brain protein in learning and memory is deciphered by scientists

Heart attacks don’t follow a Hollywood script

Erin M. Schuman wins 2026 Nakasone Award for discovery on neural synapse function and change during formation of memories

Global ocean analysis could replace costly in-situ sound speed profiles in seafloor positioning, study finds

Power in numbers: Small group professional coaching reduces rates of physician burnout by nearly 30%

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage: A comprehensive review of CCUS-EOR

New high-temperature stable dispersed particle gel for enhanced profile control in CCUS applications

[Press-News.org] Physician shortage could be cut by new primary care models, study finds