How does access to NPs impacts any healthcare disparities?  

It has been proven that accessing Nurse Practitioners can improve health outcomes, and decrease disparities of care in rural and underserved populations. NPs can provide a variety of services including primary care, preventive health services and other services that help diagnose and treat patients’ concerns. NPs are also able to close gaps in accessibility by providing care which is culturally sensitive and tailored to meet the diverse needs of patients. NPs also tend to spend more quality time with patients compared to physicians. They can build strong bonds with them, which increases patient satisfaction. This helps to build trust between the provider and patient while encouraging continuity over time.

It has also been shown that expanding access to NP led teams can reduce wait times and costs for healthcare due to physical accessibility. Providing greater access to NPs will help reduce disparities between patient groups in terms of both the quality and costs of healthcare services.