AANP's Angela Golden Responds to New York Times

The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) launched a national campaign to raise public awareness of the critical role nurse practitioners play in our country’s healthcare system.  With their continued effort and commitment to educate the public on the high-quality, patient-centered healthcare option that nurse practitioners provide, AANP President, Angela K. Golden, responded to a New York Times article titled "Doctor Shortage Likely to Worsen with Health Law" with a letter to the editor.

On August 2nd, The New York Times published Golden’s letter which includes the following responses:

• Nurse practitioners can play a critical role in addressing the country’s growing physician shortage.
• With advanced degrees, they are skilled diagnosticians and clinicians who treat acute and chronic illness and prescribe medications.
• Four decades of research show that nurse practitioners provide high-quality, cost-effective, comprehensive, patient-centered primary health care with excellent outcomes.
• In a growing number of states, a nurse practitioner can own and operate an autonomous, independent practice, not requiring any physician involvement. But in too many states, antiquated laws prevent us from practicing to the full extent of our advanced education and clinical training.
• Elected officials in affected states should work to remove these unnecessary barriers. Doing so will instantly increase access to quality health care, improve outcomes and make health care more affordable for all Americans.

With President Obama’s new healthcare law, expansion of health insurance is expected to increase to 32 million Americans over the next 10 years.

The topic of a physician shortage has become a significant area of discussion and concern.  Jill Gilliland, President of Melnic Consulting Group says, “Pediatric Nurse Practitioners are an effective alternative to physicians as independent practitioners. Their high competency level allows them to be collaborative team members, and they play a key role in providing a solution to busy practice environments.”

The AANP aims to raise public awareness through the web, print, television, radio and community involvement.  Learn how you can get involved!

To inquire about these jobs visit Melnic Consulting Group or contact: Jill Gilliland 800-886-7906 jill@melnic.com

AANP Launches Public Awareness Campaign

The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) has launched a national campaign to raise public awareness of the critical role nurse practitioners play in our country’s healthcare system.  With President Obama’s new healthcare law, expansion of health insurance is expected to increase to 32 million Americans over the next 10 years.  The campaign led by the AANP strives to assure Americans and insurance providers that Nurse Practitioners are fully qualified and prepared to provide high-quality, cost effective, medical care to Americans.

The topic of a physician shortage has become a significant area of discussion and concern.  Jill Gilliland, President of Melnic Consulting Group says, “Pediatric Nurse Practitioners are an effective alternative to physicians as independent practitioners. Their high competency level allows them to be collaborative team members, and they play a key role in providing a solution to busy practice environments.”

The AANP aims to raise public awareness through the web, print, television, radio and community involvement.  Learn how you can get involved!

To inquire about Pediatric Nurse Practitioner jobs visit Melnic Consulting Group or contact: Jill Gilliland 800-886-7906 jill@melnic.com

Nurse Practitioners Improving Access for Children's to Quality Care

Fly In Day for NAPNAP


After a two day session in DC meeting with members of congress regarding healthcare, you can rest assured that NAPNAP and its leaders are focused on important issues pertaining to the health of children. Karen Kelly Thomas, Jean Martin and Michelle Beauchesne are some of the leaders that participated in this event. Hearing their perspectives about important issues such as nurse education funding through Title VIII and Medical Home provided insights into solutions for some of today’s healthcare issues. Ann Sheehan, Karen Duderstadt and Andrea Kline work hard all year long to educate and support the members of NAPNAP in the area of advocacy.

After talking with Marcia Knutson from Representative Jim Moran’s office and Aryana Khalid representing Senator Mark Warner, I am confident that in Virginia, the members of Congress understand and support funding for the education of nurses. There was a solid understanding of the issues and strong support from the Virginia congressional leadership. Representative Allyson Schwartz of Pennsylvania has worked hard for healthcare and the integration of nurse practitioners. She was presented with an award by NAPNAP for her work to get the language of the healthcare bill to include nurse practitioners along with physicians as providers of healthcare.

On the topic of obesity, NAPNAP’s HEAT program (Healthy Eating and Activity Together) received strong support among congressional offices and leaders. The HEAT program is complimented by the recently announced plan of First Lady Michelle Obama, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Surgeon General Regina Benjamin to help Americans lead healthier lives through better nutrition, regular physical activity and educating communities to support healthy choices.

There was also a positive response for the role of nurse practitioners in Medical Homes. According to Massachusetts General Hospital for Children:

“Medical homes are clinical practices committed to organizing and coordinating care based on child and family needs and priorities. Building on the accepted attributes of primary care, effective medical homes provide care that is accessible, continuous, comprehensive, family- centered, co-ordinated, compassionate and culturally effective.”

In addition to providing comprehensive and technically expert clinical care, the medical home also provides:
• care planning
• care coordination
• population or “panel” management
• physical and operational modifications to address physical and cultural needs
• continuous quality improvement

Many models of the medical home, particularly for children with special health care needs, include parents and youth in the process of improving care.

As a strong believer in nurse practitioners, I am excited to see the awareness of the role of the nurse practitioner increase as a part of the healthcare solution. As physicians, hospitals, and policies continue to embrace the role of nurse practitioners, the access of children to quality healthcare will improve. A recent USA Today news article said that nurse practitioners are "gaining traction because people are seeing how cost-effective they are," according to Rebecca Patton, president of the American Nurses Association. "The primary care physician shortage is going to drive it." Nurse practitioners are collaborators with physicians in the ongoing quest to provide quality healthcare for all. If you would like more information on the role of nurse practitioners in pediatric care please visit
www.napnap.org.


To inquire about jobs visit Melnic Consulting Group or contact:

Jill Gilliland
800-886-7906
jill@melnic.com