Primary care outcomes in patients treated by nurse practitioners or physicians: two-year follow-up

• Published in: Medical care research and review Vol. 61; no. 3; p. 332
• Main Authors: Lenz, Elizabeth R, Mundinger, Mary O'Neil, Kane, Robert L, Hopkins, Sarah C, Lin, Susan X
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.2004
• Subjects: Adult; Chi-Square Distribution; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Health Services Research; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; New York City; Nurse Practitioners; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Patient Satisfaction; Physicians; Primary Health Care - standards; Quality of Health Care; New York City
• ISSN: 1077-5587
• DOI: 10.1177/1077558704266821

This study reports results of the 2-year follow-up phase of a randomized study comparing outcomes of patients assigned to a nurse practitioner or a physician primary care practice. In the sample of 406 adults, no differences were found between the groups in health status, disease-specific physiologic measures, satisfaction or use of specialist, emergency room or inpatient services. Physician patients averaged more primary care visits than nurse practitioner patients. The results are consistent with the 6-month findings and with a growing body of evidence that the quality of primary care delivered by nurse practitioners is equivalent to that by physicians.