QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Nurses welcome collaboration to Gov bill Nov 09
Media release
Australian College of Nurse Practitioners 12 Nov 09
”The Australian College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP) commends the government
on including a legal requirement for a collaborative arrangement within the Health
Legislation (Midwives and Nurse Practitioners) Bill and the Midwife Professional
Indemnity (Commonwealth Contribution) Scheme Bill”, says Andrew Cashin, Acting
President of ACNP.
Nurse practitioners have always sought to have a strong collaborative arrangement
with medical practitioners since the introduction of nurse practitioners within the
health care system. It is therefore gratifying that the AMA, after many years of
resisting collaborative arrangements with Nurse Practitioners, have now seen the
wisdom of this.
The College hopes that the AMA’s recent press release (5 Nov 09) indicates that
they will adopt a more positive attitude towards collaboration with Nurse Practitioners
in the future as the MBS and PBS framework is rolled out.
If health care reform is to improve equity of access to heath care services through
enabling Nurse Practitioners to have their full scope of practice, then the AMA and all
stakeholders will need to ensure that their approach is truly collaborative and not an
exclusionary or gate-keeping role.
It is understood that collaboration in this medical/nursing context, is defined as the
coming together of health practitioners with a common goal to work in the best
interest of the patient. It is possible to work autonomously and collaboratively
because of local agreed goals and needs of the patient.
The Australian population is becoming progressively older, placing significant
pressure on both the supply of supported accommodation and health services.
Collaboration between general practitioners and nurse practitioners over the care of
people living in residential aged care facilities has the potential to promote continuity
of care, decrease hospitalisations and readmissions, reduce costs, and improve
residents' access to care. It will require improved communication and the overcoming
of several attitudinal and organisational barriers says Jane Elizabeth Truscott PhD,
MBA, MS, NP, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering & Health, Central Queensland
University.
The aim of ACNP is to represent the interest of all Nurse Practitioners as we
interface with the health care system. This college continues to be a proactive voice
in helping to shape healthcare delivery in Australia as we equip Nurse Practitioners
to develop their career paths in various health settings.
Andrew Cashin is available for media contact
ph m 0407052357
NEWS 
