Nurse Practitioners – Nurse Practitioners are advanced practice nurses (usually with a master’s degree or doctorate) who provide high-quality healthcare services similar to those of a doctor. NPs diagnose and treat a wide range of health problems. They have a unique approach and stress both care and cure. Besides clinical care, NPs focus on health promotion, disease prevention, health education and counseling. They help patients make wise health and lifestyle choices.Nurse practitioners treat both acute and chronic conditions through comprehensive history taking, physical exams, physical therapy, ordering tests and therapies for patients, within their scope of practice.
Physician Assistants – A physician assistant (PA) is a mid-level medical practitioner who works under the supervision of a licensed doctor (an MD) or osteopathic physician (a DO).
The physician assistant came about in the 1960s as a response to the need for more clinicians (there was a shortage of family physicians) and better access to health care. Today the term “physician assistant” has a more precise definition as it applies to the mid-level practitioner who is able to practice medicine under the auspices of a licensed physician. Although the physician need not be present during the time the PA performs his or her duties, there must be a method of contact between the supervising physician and the PA at all times. The PA must be competent in the duties he or she is performing and the physician for whom the PA is working must also be licensed and trained to perform the relevant duties.
Licensed Psychological Associate (LPA’s) – LPA’s have attained a masters degree in clinical psychology with a concentration/internship in clinical practice and psychological testing. An LPA provides psychotherapeutic treatment and psychological testing under the supervision of a Psychologist.
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor/Associate (LCMHC/LCMHC-As)-Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors have attained a Master’s degree in counseling, counselor education, school counseling, psychology, or clinical mental health counseling. LCMHCs and LCMHCAs have also passed the NCE (National Counselor Examination) or the NCMHCE (National Clinical Mental Health Counselors Exam) which examines competency in understanding of the counseling profession.