Role Refinement

As Dr. Nelson suggests, successful NPP integration depends on physician leaders being dedicated to the collaborative model and understanding that NPP success is tied to group success. And while admittedly not a perfect test, when in doubt about how an NPP could function in your group, I think asking if a resident would work in the same role is a good starting point. TH

Dr. Nelson has been a practicing hospitalist since 1988 and is co-founder and past president of SHM. He is a principal in Nelson Flores Hospital Medicine Consultants, a national hospitalist practice management consulting firm (www.nelson flores.com). He is co-director and faculty for SHM’s “Best Practices in Managing a Hospital Medicine Program” course. This column represents his views and is not intended to reflect an official position of SHM.