A new statewide Health Issues Poll shows a majority of Commonwealth residents would be willing to see so-called “mid-level clinicians” like nurse practitioners or physicians assistants for routine healthcare. The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky’s President Dr. Susan Zepeda says the polls' results are relevant as upcoming changes to laws give more people access to healthcare. She says,
“When they have insurance they’re more likely to engage for preventive care and seek care at a primary care setting, and there simply aren’t enough physicians practicing in many parts of Kentucky to address that anticipated demand.”
Zepeda says the poll showed about 80 percent of Kentuckians would be comfortable seeing a nurse practitioner or physician assistant for routine healthcare. The foundation conducted the 2012 Kentucky Health Issues Poll last fall with the help of the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati.
