MSV supports team-based care model

December 2011

After working together for two years, the leadership at the Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) and the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners (VCNP) reached an agreement that outlines a team-based care model designed to help improve access to MD and NP care and reduce paperwork. Del. John O’Bannon, M.D. will introduce the legislation for the 2012 Virginia General Assembly session.

The agreement between MSV and VCNP emphasizes a consultative and collaborative approach between physician and NPs with the physician providing leadership and management of the care team. This agreement is in response to recommendations emerging out of the Virginia Health Reform Initiative (VHRI) to explore solutions that address systemic challenges to access to care in the commonwealth.

William B. Moskowitz, M.D., one of the MSV members (and president of the Virginia Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics) who worked with VCNP to reach this agreement, is very familiar with using the team-based approach at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). At Children’s Hospital, Dr.
Moskowitz shared that NPs are valuable members of the health care team, who contribute to the quick triage intake of specialty patients. NPs, who may serve as physician extenders at Children’s Hospital, do a lot of work within specialties like pediatric nephrology, pediatric gastroenterology and pediatric oncology, as well as in the pediatric and neonatal intensive care units.

“Thanks to our nurse practitioners, we can extend the volume of patients we can care for within a timeframe,” Dr. Moskowitz said. “The team approach is the best way to care for the patient. Everyone has an active role to play.”

Under the supervision of physicians, NPs at Children’s Hospital consult with patients and can sometimes be the primary provider. Dr. Moskowitz said that physicians and NPs work shoulder-to-shoulder, and patients enjoy spending time with their NPs because they are often so involved in the full experience of providing care.

“Using nurse practitioners allows us to see more patients and provide comprehensive, timely care for the patients,” Dr. Moskowitz said. “The team approach certainly makes sense during these times of change. We worked to establish defined roles with the team-based care agreement to allow a more collaborative and consultative relationship and to work together with nurse practitioners, who we work side-by-side with.”

MSV showed support for team-based care during its Annual Meeting at The Homestead when it featured an educational session that demonstrated how much physicians can achieve in teams. Speakers James Roudebush, M.D., M.P.H., Lieutenant General, USAF (retired) and Kent Bradley, M.D., M.P.H., M.B.A., former Deputy Commander, 30th Medical Brigade (Forward), Operation Iraqi Freedom, stressed the importance of delivering health care as a team. Participants learned about the significance of integrating team-based care principles into patient care and identifying strategies for improving care coordination.