Jun 13, 2015 2 min read

Thank you for recognizing the important work nurse practitioners do to care for our community in your May 26 editorial. And thank you for endorsing House Bill 765 and Senate Bill 717, which allow nurse practitioners to expand access to health care for everyone.

From the first time I saw my nurse practitioner 12 years ago, I have been impressed by the amount of time she took to get to know me and understand the problem that I was having. My nurse practitioner has always provided quality care when I needed it, or has sent me to a specialist who could. I never hesitate to encourage anyone to go see a nurse practitioner.

In my job as a social worker, I have had the privilege of working closely with nurse practitioners in several settings – rural health, physical health, mental health and community health. The care that nurse practitioners provide is heartfelt and thorough. Nurse practitioners have the ability to provide quality care for many injuries and illnesses. I have found that they are especially helpful for mental health patients and rural people.They take the time to understand the problem when other providers may make a quick diagnosis based on assumptions about experience or understanding. Because they are nurses, they listen first and then they explain conditions and treatment in ways that leave people feeling very confident about the outcome.

Unfortunately, as you noted, Pennsylvania law restricts nurse practitioners from extending their services to areas and patients that are in dire need of it – especially in rural areas.

The movement for new legislation to give nurse practitioners full-practice authority, and therefore the ability to provide their services to the areas that lack primary care, has already begun. I am speaking up as someone who serves people who would benefit most from this needed reform.

I am proud that my state senator, Camera Bartolotta, and state Rep. Pam Snyder have stood up in support of patients by cosponsoring these bills. I urge all of our lawmakers to support this legislation and improve health care in our region.

Bonnie Popso

Washington