Report: Medical home model should have physician at the helm

A report issued Tuesday by the American Academy of Family Physicians urges the concept of medical homes as a solution to the looming primary care shortage, but argues that such practices should still be led by doctors.

Politico Pro: Primary Care Docs Don't Want Bigger Role For Nurse Practitioners
Primary care physicians know they're in short supply -- but that doesn't mean they want nurse practitioners stepping up to fill the void. A new report from the American Academy of Family Physicians discounts the idea that nurse practitioners practice medicine independently to treat patients. It embraces the patient-centered medical home as a solution for improving care, but only if physicians are at the head. In a call with reporters Tuesday, AAFP Board Chair Roland Goertz said the discussion about team-based care in a medical home and the discussion about nurse practitioners stepping up to fill the void are at odds with each other (Smith, 9/18).

Kaiser Health News: Capsules: Family Physicians Reject Suggestions To Have Nurses Lead Practices
With a shortage of primary care providers looming, the idea of using nurses and physician assistants to fill the gap often appears to be gaining traction. But according to a report released Tuesday by the American Academy of Family Physicians, having more nurse practitioner-led medical practices is not a viable solution (Rao, 9/18).

Kansas Health Institute News: Physicians, Not Nurses, Should Lead Care In Medical Home Model, Says Report
As states adopt so-called patient-centered medical homes, family physicians -- not nurse practitioners -- should be at the helm of the health care team, even in areas facing doctor shortages, according to a white paper released today by the American Academy of Family Physicians. "We recognize that primary care physician shortages are a reality," said AAFP board chair Roland Goertz. But "granting independent practice to nurse practitioners would be creating two classes of care -- one with physician-led teams and one guided by less qualified professionals." As the shortage of primary care doctors grows, particularly in rural areas, 16 states have granted authority to nurses with more training to diagnose patients and prescribe treatment or medications (9/18).