After being directed to needed resources, contract negotiations are nearly finalized even though the clinic will not actually hire Michelle until August, when she completes her PA program. Congratulations to Michelle and Little Falls Orthopedic Clinic. According to a study by the National Center for Health Statistics, this is an overwhelming 11 percent jump over 1995. The 1996 increase continues a remarkable 21-year trend. Remarkable trend continues as CNM-attended births rise again.
Nurse practitioners are good for the community and good for business.
In Aitkin, the practice of using nurse practitioners and physician assistants is almost as old as Main Street. The team quickly educated its patients about the type of services that could be provided by physician assistants and nurse practitioners, in effect sowing the seeds for acceptance of a progressive health care approach that is being reaped and harvested today. The first physician assistant was a female who quickly developed a strong following among women in the community. Women in Aitkin and surrounding areas struck up a near instant rapport with the new physician assistant and found that they could more comfortably communicate personal medical details, leading to better overall care. This favorable experience with a less traditional health care provider, combined with additional exposure to nurse practitioners from St. Scholastica's internship program, encouraged Aitkin to include more nurse practitioners into the health care provider mix.