Use of Physician Assistants, Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners, Certified Nurse Midwives, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, and 2013 Clinical Nurse Specialists

Overview

Over the past several years, Pennsylvania has updated the practice acts and regulations for an array of qualified health care professionals, including certified registered nurse practitioners (CRNP), physician assistants (PA), certified nurse midwives (CNM), certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA) and clinical nurse specialists (CNS). The changes in the practice acts and regulations for these practitioners can help hospitals and health systems in improving access to health care services and coordination of care.

The Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) developed this guidebook to provide information regarding the updates to the various practice acts and regulations. The guidebook can be helpful as your hospital and health system develops strategic plans around health reform, such as development of medical homes, care transitions to post-acute care or home, and reducing readmissions.

Definitions and Pennsylvania Workforce Statistics—this section provides a concise overview of the physician assistant, certified registered nurse practitioner, certified nurse midwife, certified registered nurse anesthetist, and clinical nurse specialist workforce, including the number of licensed and practicing professionals in the commonwealth.

At a Glance—there are two separate “at a glance” matrices in this guidebook—one for CRNP and PA practice and the second one for CRNP, CNM, CRNA and CNS practice in Pennsylvania. These “at a glance” matrices were developed to help hospitals and health systems quickly identify whether a particular practitioner has a scope of practice law/regulation; has title protection; and what continuing education is needed for relicensure.

Detailed Matrix—there are two separate “detailed” matrices in this guidebook—one for CRNP and PA practice in Pennsylvania and the second one for CRNP, CNM, CRNA and CNS practice in Pennsylvania. These detailed matrices were developed to help hospitals and health systems understand how the various practitioners can be utilized within various care settings and relevant distinctions in their oversight.

 

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Topics: Regulatory Advocacy, Workforce

Revision Date: 5/1/2013

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