Question

Licensed independent practitioners, previously mid level practitioners, scope of practice differ from state to state. What are some potential drawbacks for health care in the USA?

Answer 1

The scope of practice for nurse practitioners is mainly extend to the medical diagnosis and treatment of patients from acute to chronic medical condition.

The main goal of health practice changes in USA is to improve and maintain population health but still there are needs or demand for high quality, basic health services for underserved populations. The legal scope of practices for health profession is specified or defined in a state-specific scope of practice act. These acts explains about the services that the professionals can be provided and also define education and training requirements & licensure.

POTENTIAL DRAWBACKS FOR HEALTH CARE IN THE USA

1. Even though a health professional may be well-educated and capable to provide service, legal scope of service in a state may not allow him/her for providing service in that state.

2. In various states, there are variations in scope of practise for nurse practitioners.

Eg. In one state, a person who is practiced as a nurse practitioner under licensed physician can be changed to licensed independent practitioner without any supervision.

3. Limits patients access to care due to restrictive scope of practice for a profession.

Eg. A nurse can do wound dressing for a patient while nurse assistants cannot.

4. Inconsistent leads to limited professional mobility, gives challenges to different organizations (health care provider) and providers of telehealth services.

5. To change the existing scope of practice regulations for a profession that needs time, cost and long process with opinions from different authorities.