PROFESSIONAvoid legal pitfalls when hiring physician extendersIn the Courts. By Tanya Albert, AMNews staff. July 14, 2003. As physicians look for ways to see as many patients as possible, nurse practitioners and physician assistants are finding their ways into physician offices in greater numbers than ever before. According to the American Academy of Physician Assistants, there were 46,002 physician assistants in the United States in the beginning of 2003, a nearly 110% increase since 1993. In March 2000, there were an estimated 102,829 nurse practitioners, according to the Nurse Practitioner Alternatives in Education, Inc. But along with added help comes added liability for the physician. American Medical News talked to Raymund C. King, MD, an otorhinolaryngologist who practiced medicine for 10 years before obtaining his law degree. He's now a litigator and transactional attorney for the Dallas law firm of Cowles & Thompson, PC, primarily representing physicians and hospitals. Here's what he had to say about the issue of physicians' liability for their allied health professionals. Question: To start, what are some of the legal differences between a nurse practitioner and a physician assistant of which physicians should be aware? Answer: A nurse practitioner's scope of practice varies state by state. In many states, they are allowed to practice independently, without a doctor. They generally are involved with primary health care, assessing and diagnosing common illnesses and managing chronic, stable conditions. Nurse practitioners can order EKGs and x-rays in many states. However, nurse practitioners often practice under the guidance of a licensed physician. [...]Full text of AMNews content is available to AMA members and paid subscribers.
Copyright 2003 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
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