5138.2: Wednesday, November 15, 2000 - Board 2

Abstract #11837

Physicians & Nurse Practitioners: Complements or Competitors

Ellen Long-Middleton, RN, PhD(c)1, Suzanne Cashman, ScD2, Margaret Kearney, PhD, RNC3, Warren Ferguson, MD2, and Annette Hanson, MD, MBA4. (1) Graduate School of Nursing, University of Massachusetts - Worcester, 55 Lake Avenue North, Worcester, MA 01655, 508 856-1015, ellen.long-middleton@umassmed.edu, (2) Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Massachusetts Medical School, 55 Lake Ave North, Worcester, MA 01655, 508 856-2930, suzanne.cashman@umassmed.edu, (3) School of Nursing, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467-3812, (4) Office of Clinical Affairs, Division of Medical Assistance, 600 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111

As the numbers of both primary care physicians and nurse practitioners continue to increase, policy makers and administrators have begun to consider whether the result will be an increase in cooperation and collaboration or competition. This session reports on the results of one demonstration project that has been working to build integrated, collaborative teams at two primary care sites. An aim is for physicians and nurse practitioners to work in concert with each other, understanding fully the unique perspective and training that each brings to patient care. In conjunction with the work to develop team, physicians’ and nurse practitioners’ understandings of the others’ roles, responsibilities, and raison d’etre were collected through open-ended questions at predetermined times during the course of the project. Methods that focus on content analysis of qualitative data have been used to analyze the resulting data. Participants will understand how team building can affect professionals’ perception and understanding of each other’s roles and responsibilities.

Learning Objectives: 1) To understand how intensive team training and building at two primary care sites affects the views and understandings that physicians and nurse practitioners have of each other, their roles and responsibilities. 2) To become acquainted with a model of innovative team training for providers at two primary care sites that care for vulnerable and low-income patients

Keywords: Collaboration, Roles

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Not Applicable
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

The 128th Annual Meeting of APHA