New VA amendment re: health care

[Berta]

This could have severe impacts on vets :

http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2847

 

In Part:

VA Grants Full Practice Authority to Advance Practice Registered Nurses

Decision Follows Federal Register Notice That Netted More Than 200,000 Comments

WASHINGTON - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced that it is amending provider regulations to permit full practice authority to three roles of VA advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) to practice to the full extent of their education, training, and certification, regardless of State restrictions that limit such full practice authority, except for applicable State restrictions on the authority to prescribe and administer controlled substances, when such APRNs are acting within the scope of their VA employment.

“Advanced practice registered nurses are valuable members of VA’s health care system,” said VA Under Secretary for Health Dr. David J. Shulkin. “Amending this regulation increases our capacity to provide timely, efficient, effective and safe primary care, aids VA in making the most efficient use of APRN staff capabilities, and provides a degree of much needed experience to alleviate the current access challenges that are affecting VA.”   

- See more at: http://www.va.gov/opa/pressrel/pressrelease.cfm?id=2847#sthash.BpFyYxsk.dpuf

I havent read it all yet but am curious....

How many members here were part of the 200,000+ commentors?   I sure was one of them.

I have nothing against nurses at all but the fact remains they are NOT doctors.

 

[ketchup56]

VA is having a hard time recruiting Medical Doctors so the ranks need filling somewhere...Veterans may need to take maybe a little more control and attention to their care..JMHO