Comments on new rule for using Nurses as Dr's...

[pwrslm]

(VA) Proposed Rule: https://www.regulations.gov/docket?D=VA-2016-VHA-0011 on allowing nurses to practice without an MD's supervision.

 

Link for comments while it is still open.  Comments close 25 July 2016.   Agree or disagree, This is your chance to make your opinion heard, and why you feel the way you do about it.

[Vync]

The hope that they would be allowed to write IMO's would be very promising.

If that is the case and if I read the proposed stereo instructions properly, then that would mean that only certain masters degree-level nurse specialists would be allowed to participate. If that is really true, then I'm sending my wife back to earn just one more degree...

I have a funny feeling that the VA would not allow them anywhere near IMO's. If they did, then they would have some oddball restriction or something limiting it to nurses employed by the BVA C&P clinics, not the VHA side or non-VA...

[Berta]

I was thinking Vync, that if  VA  APRNs start doing  all  C & P exams (since VA wants to give them 

"full practice authority") that a vet could get a non VA APRN for an IMO that might cost less than one done by a medical doctor, if the C & P denies the claim. And the VA would have to accept it.

But I am not sure how this proposed rule will play out.

Comments from anesthesiologists at the Fed Register site  were against APRNs doing their jobs.

Many nurses were in favor of the proposal.

The brief chance I had to read some comments from vets were both for and against this idea.

 

[Andyman73]

Done it.

[Berta]

THANK YOU Andyman!

They give us a tracking number but it is easier to just pop our name into their search feature at the top to make sure our comment pops up.

You just click on View all comments, and in Search feature click on New search within this document and your commenter name will pop up with your comment.

I have not found any of the vet lawyer's comments yet but one other hadit member has commented too.

A VA anesthesiologist made the point that there is no lack of qualified anesthesiologists in the VA.

This could change the VA in many many ways.

I am not even sure if the nurses ,like the VA docs, dont have to carry malpractice insurance, and how it would work out if a VA APRN makes a critical medical error with a patient.

There is the NPDB mandate as well...and the VA's reporting requirements of doctors who have caused FTCA awards. Will that apply to these nurses too?

I have nothing against nurses and known many who are superb at their work.

Still, as many commenters (vets and/or their family members said) you all earned the best medical care the VA has to give. Maybe this change will ensure the best care. But maybe it wont in every case.

And how much weight will the VA give to APRNs in the claims process?

 

 

 

 

[Andyman73]

3 hours ago, Berta said:

And how much weight will the VA give to APRNs in the claims process?

That is the million dollar question, isn't it? 

[Buck52]

Well if this is approved  then they (APRN) have the Authority! 

I would say the same as Dr.

but I don't truly see this happening for approvel  it would to controversial 

It may get a lot of veterans pro votes...but to know medine to me there's a big difference in a Dr' Opinion and RN.