Bill would let advanced practice nurses work independently in Wisconsin
DAVID WAHLBERG
Updated
Tina DeGroot, the main provider at the Neighborhood Free Health Clinic in Stoughton, sees patient Mario Barcena during a recent visit. A new bill would allow DeGroot and other advanced practice nurses to work independently of doctors.
Each week, the Neighborhood Free Health Clinic in Stoughton sees 15 to 20 patients with little or no insurance, treating them for high blood pressure, diabetes, anxiety, depression and other medical concerns.
Tina DeGroot, right, a clinical nurse specialist who heads up the Neighborhood Free Health Clinic in Stoughton, reviews a patient's information with Jennifer Birins, a clinical nurse specialist student.
Clinical nurse specialist Tina DeGroot takes Mario Barcena's blood pressure. Barcena, of Belleville, started coming to the Neighborhood Free Health Clinic in Stoughton after he lost a job that provided health insurance. After he got a new job, without insurance, the clinic said he could keep coming. “That’s when I really knew they were for real," he said.
Tina DeGroot, reviewing a patient's medical information, said advanced practice nurses like her don't need to be forced to have collaborative agreements with doctors because they know when to consult doctors for help.
Tina DeGroot, the lead provider at the Neighborhood Free Health Clinic in Stoughton, said a law requiring doctor oversight of advanced practice nurses could make it difficult to keep running the clinic. "We're very worried about this because we can't find physicians who want to donate their time," she said.
Tina DeGroot, the main provider at the Neighborhood Free Health Clinic in Stoughton, sees patient Mario Barcena during a recent visit. A new bill would allow DeGroot and other advanced practice nurses to work independently of doctors.
Tina DeGroot, right, a clinical nurse specialist who heads up the Neighborhood Free Health Clinic in Stoughton, reviews a patient's information with Jennifer Birins, a clinical nurse specialist student.
Clinical nurse specialist Tina DeGroot takes Mario Barcena's blood pressure. Barcena, of Belleville, started coming to the Neighborhood Free Health Clinic in Stoughton after he lost a job that provided health insurance. After he got a new job, without insurance, the clinic said he could keep coming. “That’s when I really knew they were for real," he said.
Tina DeGroot, reviewing a patient's medical information, said advanced practice nurses like her don't need to be forced to have collaborative agreements with doctors because they know when to consult doctors for help.
Tina DeGroot, the lead provider at the Neighborhood Free Health Clinic in Stoughton, said a law requiring doctor oversight of advanced practice nurses could make it difficult to keep running the clinic. "We're very worried about this because we can't find physicians who want to donate their time," she said.
