Partnerships Bring NP Expertise to Health Care Initiatives

Abstract

In the March JNP letter, I wrote about making a difference through patient-provider partnerships. This month I am looking at other types of partnerships that are equally important in making a difference. Partnering with organizations, agencies and others can be extremely beneficial to patients and providers as well as impact NP practice through reaching policymakers. AANP engages in many partnerships to bring NP expertise to patient care initiatives. As an example, the department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) launched Million Hearts in 2012 with a five-year initiative to reduce one million heart attacks and strokes. AANP has been a proud partner in this initiative and honored to continue with Million Hearts 2022. AANP is also active in the White House and CDC antibiotic stewardship initiative since the initial White House kick off and participated on workforce teams to make an impact, truly changing protocols in hospitals, long-term care and primary care in antibiotic stewardship. AANP was also invited to be on the initial steering committee of the Coalition to Improve Diagnosis (CID) to reduce diagnostic error and continues to bring the NP focus to patient care to this initiative. AANP works with policymakers at all levels to eliminate every barrier to NP practice. Looking ahead, AANP continues to promote NP practice with many partners such as AACN, NONPF, PCPCC, SAMHSA, ACP, Shot at Life, National Kidney Foundation and so many others. It is truly an honor to stand with other professionals to improve patient outcomes every day. NPs lead from the smallest practices to largest health systems in the VA, military and civilian communities. Our patients benefit from these partnerships as we work to improve outcomes in the health care system.