Telemedicine and Nurses
Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, December 15, 2017 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler
Most of us know a lot’s going on in healthcare on the national front, but things are happening here, too. For example, a nine-member study committee authorized by S.R. 188 that passed March 28th recommends ways to remove barriers between patients and adequate health care in Georgia.
After the legislature adjourned, that committee met several times to hear from private practice health professionals, as well as two Georgia officials – one from the Department of Community Health and another from the Department of Public Health.
The committee’s goal is to improve Georgia’s overall health care rank, which is currently 41st in the nation. To do that, they want to expand the authority of nurse practitioners and advanced practice registered nurses. Many nurse practitioners are in private practice, maybe with their own office or under supervision of a family physician. But, commonly, they work in community clinics, where they may see the same families for many years.
Advanced practice registered nurses have at least a Master’s Degree in Nursing, but may specialize as a nurse practitioner, nurse midwife, anesthetist or clinical nurse specialist. Knowing the difference between the advanced practice nurse and the nurse practitioner is important, because legislation that may be introduced in 2018 could authorize them to write prescriptions for medication. Continue reading