Getting the most out of your healthcare provider takes time and a little bit of research. When you are an informed consumer, you can be a better patient. One thing that many informed patients know is that seeing a nurse practitioner instead of a doctor can give you access to top quality care. Here are five benefits patients can get from regularly seeing a nurse practitioner during their well and sick visits.
1. Quicker Access
One of the biggest benefits that patients can get when their primary care provider’s office employs nurse practitioners is faster access to care. Instead of having to wait several days for an appointment with the doctor, patients can typically get seen within a few hours with a nurse practitioner. When you’re feeling under the weather, this can be a great way to get relief much faster. Sometimes, nurse practitioners are more available after hours as well, making it easier for patients to schedule well visits outside of work hours instead of taking off time from their job.
2. Lower Costs
Seeing a nurse practitioner may also help lower the cost of healthcare across the board. In one model, visits for patients seen by nurse practitioners incurred lower costs than the same type of visit with a doctor. For the average consumer, he or she may not initially notice this cost difference in a visit, but an increase in the price may eventually be passed down in rising insurance premiums. Likewise, a lowered cost of care may also be reflected in cheaper premiums for some plans.
3. More Understanding
Some patients find that the care they receive from a nurse practitioner is excellent, not just with the quality of the medical advice but also with the amount of compassion and understanding. Nurse practitioners often start their careers as registered nurses and have spent many hours providing supportive care to patients and developing a strong bedside manner. Graduate programs like the University of Cincinnati help fine tune these attributes in nurse practitioners. Learn more about UC’s fnp online programs that are preparing tomorrow’s providers for family practice.
4. Better Outcomes
Another way patients benefit from having a nurse practitioner on their team of medical providers is with better care outcomes. When a patient is struggling with severe symptoms, it’s best to get seen right away before it gets even more serious and requires a hospital admission. Additionally, having many different types of medical staff members working for you in a collaborative approach can help you get the best diagnoses and treatment plants. Students at Maryville University learn this team approach in their nurse practitioner program.
5. Healthier Lifestyle
The last benefit that patients can get from nurse practitioners is a potentially healthier lifestyle. If you make a commitment to your wellness and are a regular visitor to your primary care office, whether you’re being seen by a nurse practitioner, physician’s assistant, or doctor, you can learn more tips and techniques for a healthier you.
Seeing a nurse practitioner is a great way to access convenient and sometimes more affordable health care. As the need for providers grows, expect to see more nurse practitioners in the coming years.