VA Works to Empower Patient Approach to Healthcare Amidst Turmoil

While the VA is under fire for its lengthy wait times, it proposes actions to make better the patient access to healthcare.

The Department of Veteran’s Affairs (VA) has proposed changing their healthcare provider standards to permit advanced practice registered nurses permission to practice at the top of their licenses, ideally making better the patient access to healthcare through the agency.

In a document issued in the Federal Register, VA explains its proposal, claiming that it would allow all 4 categories of APRNs – certified nurse practitioners, certified registered nurse anesthetists, clinical nurse specialists, and certified nurse-midwives – to practice medicine at their highest licensed qualifications.

In accordance to the proposal, APRNs are able to practice at higher levels at civilian healthcare facilities, and expanding their care authority will still permit for care on par with those civilian healthcare facilities. It will also increase Veteran access to care because it will increase the number of qualified contributors from which they can receive treatment.

“This rulemaking would increase veterans’ access to VA health care by expanding the pool of qualified health care experts who are authorized to provide primary health care and other related health care services to the full extent of their education, training, and certification, without the clinical supervision of physicians,” VA wrote in its proposal.