To what extent is primary care accessible to all populations in this country?

Access to quality health care services is important not only for promoting health, but
also to prevent and manage disease. The US health system does not provide health care
to the country’s entire population. For Americans that are over age 65, the Federal
Medicare Program covers them. For other Americans they access care via a
combination of private and state insurance programs. Americans that do not qualify for
federal insurance, or unable to obtain insurance from either their employer or through
the health insurance market place do not have access to primary care service. This is so
unfortunate as the US is one of the most developed countries in the world.

Answer the following in your discussion:

 What are the main barriers to accessing primary care?

Some of the main barriers to accessing primary care include: inadequate or no

insurance coverage, high cost of care, lack of culturally competent care, and lack of
availability of services. These barriers ultimately lead to delays in receiving
appropriate care, financial burdens, unmet health needs, and preventable
hospitalizations (Peterson, 2017).

 What is being done to solve this problem?

According to the American Medical Association (AMA), the following are measures
currently being done to solve the problem of access to healthcare in the US: Ensure
adequate funding of the Children’s Health Insurance Program and retain Medicaid
expansion and implement expansion in more states, stabilize individual insurance
marketplaces and retain ACA market reforms, address physician shortages, telehealth
and remote patient monitoring, and increase efficiency. In addition increasing efficiency
means decreasing regulatory burdens, such as prior authorizations. This not only detracts
patient care but also increases cost.

 What else can be done?

There are so many things that come to mind that can be done to increase patient access
to health care. For starters, we need to make it easier for patients to manage high out-
of-pocket costs, such as payment plans. I know some organizations offer this but it is
not consistent. In addition, giving Nurse Practitioners the authority to practice within
their scope and education skills will significantly help. Reality is that patient health
care access depends upon there being clinicians available to actually treat patients.

 How are NPs making a difference?

NP are a power house in the health care system. They are steadily gaining more legal
rights and are diagnosing and treating a growing number of patients each year. NP’s
positively impact health care by providing quality and personalized patient care,
lowering cost of health care, and improving access to care. They are delivering care to
 patients of all ages. They range from serving in tiny rural clinics to large hospitals and
everything in-between (Barnes, Aiken & Villarruel, 2016).

 What does the literature say about the NPs ability to provide primary care?

The research indicates NPs are educated and well-trained to provide patients and
families access to high-quality, cost-effective primary healthcare services. By implementing
best practices, NP can expect to understand the role of the family, the family dynamics and
the impact of the family (and their decision-making) on the patient’s care.

 What does the literature report as comparisons between primary care provided
by an NP versus a physician?

According to Wood (2019), outcomes of APRN compared to MD are comparable or

better and APRN not only provide high quality patient care but also have positive
patient outcomes.

References:

Barnes, H., Aiken, L.H., & Villarruel, A. M. (2016). Quality and safety of nurse
practitioner care: The case for full practice authority in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania
Nurse, 71(4), 12-15. Retrieved from https://search.ebsochost-
com.libauth.purdueglobal.edu/login.aspx?
direct=true&db=rzh&AN=122275479&site=eds-live

Peterson, M.E. (2017). Barriers to practice and the impact on health care: A nurse
practitioner focus. Journal of the Advanced Practitioner in Oncology, 8(1), 74-81.
Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nim.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5995533/

Wood, D. (2019). Survey shows continuing barriers to APRN practice. Retrieved from

https://www.staffcare.com