Has this ever happened to you:  you call the doctor’s office to make an appointment with your physician, but he or she is not available; instead, you’re offered an appointment with a nurse practitioner or a physician assistant.  “What’s the difference?” you ask.  “Can a nurse practitioner or physician assistant take care of me as effectively as my doctor?” 

For many people, the answer is “yes.”  At Harvard Vanguard, these providers are a vital part of our team-based approach to care,