Improving interprofessional collaboration between physicians and nurse practitioners in virtual primary care telehealth through co-management education
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Abstract
By 2032, it is predicted the United States’ (US) need for primary care physicians will exceed supply by as much as 55,200 physicians. Nurse practitioners (NPs) are prepared and positioned to help fill the primary care provider gap. The co-management model requires interprofessional collaboration between a physician and nurse practitioner who share responsibility in managing a patient’s healthcare needs. Improving providers’ knowledge and attitudes toward interprofessional collaboration has the potential to lessen the primary care provider shortage while improving patient access to care. This quality improvement project was originally focused on improving physicians’ knowledge and attitudes toward NPs and interprofessional collaboration in a virtual, primary care, telehealth clinic. Due to an unexpected pandemic, data collected was modified to include changes in NP caseload and changes in NP expectations, and roles at the project site as a result of COVID-19. The pandemic provided an opportunity to expedite interprofessional collaboration at the project site.