According to a newly published study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, more nurse practitioners are providing primary care in low-income and rural areas where the physician workforce is decreasing.
"The growing NP supply in these areas is offsetting low physician supply and thus may increase primary care capacity in underserved communities," lead study author Ying Xue, RN, told Reuters.
Key findings from the study:
From 2010 to 2016 the average number of nurse practitioners in communities with the highest levels of low-income residents increased from 19.8 to 41.1 per 100,000 people.
There was an increase in the average number of NPs working in rural communities from 25.2 to 41.3 per 100,000 residents.