midlevel

A health care provider with less formal education and less training than that of a medical doctor (physician). Midlevel providers have a more restricted scope of practice than physicians and are not accredited nor licensed by the state's Board of Medicine. For example, nurse practitioners (NPs) are licensed by the state's Board of Nursing. Midlevel providers cost less to hire than physicians. Midlevels are often employed by for-profit corporations to offer basic medical services (e.g. flu shots), such as at the CVS MinuteClinic or Walmart Care Clinic. Examples of midlevels include: nurse practitioners (NP/DNP), nurse anesthetist (CRNA) or physician assistants (PA). Some states (e.g. Michigan) now recognize dental hygienists as midlevel providers.