Non-physician practitioners in radiation oncology: advanced practice nurses and physician assistants.
| Autor: | Kelvin JF; Ambulatory Care, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA. kelvinj@mskcc.org, Moore-Higgs GJ, Maher KE, Dubey AK, Austin-Seymour MM, Daly NR, Mendenhall NP, Kuehn EF |
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| Jazyk: | angličtina |
| Zdroj: | International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics [Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys] 1999 Sep 01; Vol. 45 (2), pp. 255-63. |
| DOI: | 10.1016/s0360-3016(99)00180-7 |
| Abstrakt: | Purpose: With changes in reimbursement and a decrease in the number of residents, there is a need to explore new ways of achieving high quality patient care in radiation oncology. One mechanism is the implementation of non-physician practitioner roles, such as the advanced practice nurse (APN) and physician assistant (PA). This paper provides information for radiation oncologists and nurses making decisions about: (1) whether or not APNs or PAs are appropriate for their practice, (2) which type of provider would be most effective, and (3) how best to implement this role. Methods: Review of the literature and personal perspective. Conclusions: Specific issues addressed regarding APN and PA roles in radiation oncology include: definition of roles, regulation, prescriptive authority, reimbursement, considerations in implementation of the role, educational needs, and impact on resident training. A point of emphasis is that the non-physician practitioner is not a replacement or substitute for either a resident or a radiation oncologist. Instead, this role is a complementary one. The non-physician practitioner can assist in the diagnostic work-up of patients, manage symptoms, provide education to patients and families, and assist them in coping. This support facilitates the physician's ability to focus on the technical aspects of prescribing radiotherapy. |
| Databáze: | MEDLINE |
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