PA Governor Signs Law Allowing Nurse Practitioners to Order Home Health Services

Stephen Tweed | July 21, 2007 | Newsroom
On Friday, July 20, 2007, Governor Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania signed into law a bill allowing Nurse Practitioners to sign certain orders that previously were limited to physicians.Nurse Practitioners in Pennsylvania are now permitted to perform some duties only doctors had been allowed to do, such as ordering medical equipment, home health and hospice care;…

On Friday, July 20, 2007, Governor Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania signed into law a bill allowing Nurse Practitioners to sign certain orders that previously were limited to physicians.

Nurse Practitioners in Pennsylvania are now permitted to perform some duties only doctors had been allowed to do, such as ordering medical equipment, home health and hospice care; making therapy and dietitian referrals; and issuing homebound schooling certifications. The expanded responsibilities apply only to registered nurses with specialized training and advanced degrees.

Tine Hansen-Turton, head of the Philadelphia-based National Nursing Centers Consortium, said “Nurse practitioners are the cure for an ailing U.S. health system faced with a growing number of patients and a looming shortage of general doctors, especially ones willing to treat poor patients.”

What do you think? How will the growth of Nurse Practitioners affect the future of home care? Post your comments below.

Stephen Tweed
Stephen Tweed is among the top Thought Leaders in Home Care today. As an industry researcher, author, and executive coach, he has worked with owners and CEOs of companies in the top 5% of Home Care and is a frequent speaker at Home Care association conferences and corporate meetings across the US and Canada.

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