New NP-led clinic in Minneapolis

[Febrifuge]

Minnesota is a great state in which to practice as a PA. The medical culture here is fairly PA-positive, as well. I'm very happy with my full prescribing rights, my off-site supervising, the two meetings in person per year with my collaborating MD.

 

But oh man, is it becoming a good environment for the NPs. A recent change to state law removed the need for NPs to have oversight from MDs, and the U of MN is actually opening a neighborhood primary care clinic staffed entirely with NPs.

 

http://bringmethenews.com/2015/03/25/the-nurse-practitioner-will-see-you-now-u-of-m-set-to-open-nurse-only-clinic/

 

http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/03/24/nurse-clinic

 

http://www.mndaily.com/news/metro-state/2015/03/24/u-opening-first-nurse-led-clinic

 

Personally, I have mixed feelings. I wish them all the success in the world, but at the same time I really hope someone other than just the NP Program at the U is going to be tracking their data, especially as it pertains to outcomes for their patients. This looks to be an unusually ripe opportunity to measure the quality of NP care where the rubber meets the road.

 

I also have worries about the trainee NPs who could conceivably come up through their educational process with minimal interaction with MDs and DOs, much less PAs. I wonder if some of those oddball ingrained beliefs about us will carry farther through training, and into practice?

 

Not to mention, anything that smacks of "separate but equal" kind of raises my hackles. I can't think of a time in history that's ever been good for anybody.

 

This could be a raging success, and in the best of scenarios it could potentially be a wake-up call for Minnesota's docs, strengthening the link with us PAs as their full partners. It could even lead to further expansion of our practice act, and more independence.

On the other hand, it could be just enough rope for the NP profession to hang itself. It's gonna be an interesting few years, watching this story.

[Guest Paula]

My prediction is it will be very successful for a couple of reasons:

 

They have the support of the UW Medical school and the Nursing School....both have lots of power in MN nursing and medical education, secondary to Mayo. 

They have a ready network of physicians they can refer to in collaboration with the medical school/college who they referred to as health specialists. 

Physicians turned down the opportunity to provide services to the homeless and those who live in the high rise, thus opening the areas NPs and (PAs) should be going into.  We are the ones who seem to be willing to serve the underserved, poor, homeless, mentally ill, and do it for the most part, with joy. 

The NPs need 2080 hours of supervised oversight before gaining their independence (does this sound eerily like a PA program)? 

The NPs in MN have a vision and a goal and just succeeded in reaching to their highest level of practice....independence.

 

PAs in MN have the unique opportunity now to step up to the plate and figure out how to discuss with the MN legislature that you were all left behind.  The dust is settling.