Scope of Practice

Many hospitals are responding to resource constraints and staffing challenges by allowing nonphysicians—like physician assistants or nurse practitioners—to perform complex medical procedures without supervision.  

ACEP believes that an emergency physician should lead every emergency care team in the country – and patients overwhelmingly prefer to see a physician when they are having an emergency. Physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) are integral and valued members of the care team, but they do not have the training or expertise of an emergency physician. Regardless of where a patient lives, anyone who goes to the emergency department deserves access to the highest quality care delivered by emergency physician-led teams. 

ACEP is fighting expanded scope nationwide through our own efforts and in collaboration with the American Medical Association (AMA) Scope of Practice Partnership (SOPP), a group of more than 100 national, state, and specialty medical associations that share the belief that patients deserve care led by physicians. The resources and advocacy of this partnership are frequently deployed in states where troubling scope of practice legislation surfaces.