Description of the role of nonphysician practitioners in radiation oncology
| Autor: | Giselle J. Moore-Higgs, Joanne Frankel Kelvin |
|---|---|
| Rok vydání: | 1999 |
| Předmět: |
Cancer Research
Radiation Quality management business.industry Nurse practitioners Professional Practice Clinical nurse specialist Patient care United States Physician Assistants Oncology Nursing Private practice Health Care Surveys Radiation oncology Radiation Oncology Workforce Medicine Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging Nurse Practitioners Physician assistants business Nurse Clinicians Reimbursement |
| Zdroj: | International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics. 45(1) |
| ISSN: | 0360-3016 |
| Popis: | 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 nonphysician practitioner roles. The purpose of this paper is to describe the roles and responsibilities of clinical nurse specialists (CNSs), nurse practitioners (NPs), and physician assistants (PAs) currently working in the field of radiation oncology in the United States. Methods and Materials: A nationwide mailing was sent to elicit responses to an 8-page self-report questionnaire. Results: The final sample of 86 included 45 (52%) CNSs, 31 (36%) NPs, and 10 (12%) PAs. Two-thirds worked in private practice settings. Most of the nonphysician practitioners frequently obtained histories (57–90%) and ordered laboratory studies (52–68%). However, NPs and PAs were more likely than CNSs to frequently perform "medical" services such as perform physical exams (42–80% vs. 19–36%), order radiologic studies (50% vs. 17%), and prescribe medication (60–84% vs. 26%). CNSs were more likely to provide "supportive" services such as develop educational materials, participate in quality improvement initiatives, and develop policies and procedures. Conclusions: Nonphysician practitioners are not substituting for physicians, but rather are working in collaboration with them, performing designated tasks. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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