Physicians are not the only primary care providers in the U.S. health care system. Training of advanced practice nurses, including nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs), has grown rapidly. How do these clinicians enhance the primary care workforce?

These clinicians enhance the primary care workforce in two ways. In many practices, they serve as members of primary care teams, focusing, for example, on well visits, patient education, or less complex patients. A growing number of states now allow PAs and NPs to function as independent practitioners, diagnosing and treating patients and prescribing medications without physician supervision.