Cristina Hendrix, associate professor, recently published an article entitled "Primary care provider type: Are there differences in patients' intermediate diabetes outcomes?" in the the Official Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (JAAPA). Co-authors include Christine M. Everett of Duke University School of Medicine, Perri Morgan of the Duke University School of Medicine, Valerie A. Smith of the Duke University School of Medicine, Sandra Woolson of ADAPT, David Edelman of the Duke University School of Medicine, Theodore Berkowitz of ADAPT, Brandolyn White of ADAPT, and George L. Jackson of the Duke University School of Medicine.

Abstract

Growing demand for services is leading primary care organizations to explore new delivery models. One approach incorporates multiple primary care providers on a team. Effective incorporation of multiple clinicians into teams requires well-defined roles, including the usual provider (who provides the majority of primary care) and supplemental providers (who provide a minority of primary care visits). Using data from the Veterans Health Administration, we examined whether differences in diabetes outcomes exist among patients with different types of primary and supplemental providers (physicians, physician assistants (PAs), and NPs). No clinically meaningful differences were observed based on the profession of the usual provider or supplemental provider, or whether physicians provided supplemental care to patients with PAs or NPs as usual providers. These results suggest that physicians, PAs, and NPs can perform a variety of roles depending on the needs of the organization and patient population.