Primary care provider type: Are there differences in patients' intermediate diabetes outcomes?

JAAPA. 2019 Jun;32(6):36-42. doi: 10.1097/01.JAA.0000558239.06875.0b.

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.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cholesterol, LDL / metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus / metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus / therapy*
  • Disease Management
  • Female
  • Glycated Hemoglobin
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nurse Practitioners*
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Patient Care Team
  • Physician Assistants*
  • Physicians, Primary Care*
  • Primary Health Care / organization & administration*
  • United States
  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Substances

  • Cholesterol, LDL
  • Glycated Hemoglobin A
  • hemoglobin A1c protein, human