o ​​Type of healthcare worker: Nurse practitioner o When this type of work entered the market: The medical profession of nurse practitioner developed in the middle The work of nurse practitioners has evolved from implementing the work of primary care physicians to that of traditional nurses. o Reasons for establishment and growth: In the late 1950s and early 1960s, increased specialization of physicians was underway, which led many physicians to explore other avenues of medicine, resulting in a large shortage of primary care physicians. This has left many rural and urban areas with very limited access to medical care. During this same period, the Medicaid and Medicare programs were growing rapidly and increasing the number of people covered, including low-income people, people with disabilities, and the elderly. The abrupt expansion of coverage has caused demand for primary care services to skyrocket. With doctors no longer able to meet the growing demand, nurses stepped up to provide medical care and quickly believed they were qualified to expand their role and the scope of their capabilities. In 1965, Loretta Ford and Henry Silver, a nurse and physician, recognized the need for a training program and developed the first program for nurse practitioners. Since then, the nurse practitioner role has grown rapidly in response to the growing need for accessible and affordable care and is currently ranked as one of the fastest growing healthcare professions. o Financial Implications: Lower overall costs have been associated with NP (nurse practitioner) care. Studies show that the average cost of a nurse practitioner visit is about 25 to 30 percent less than a doctor's visit. For review...... middle of paper ......sation. This will lead audiologists in the future to pursue careers in research, military audiology, and academia, rather than private practice. However, as hearing loss is associated with aging, individuals continually seek the services of an audiologist. Additionally, members of the baby boom generation are now all seeking the services of audiologists. The audiology profession is predicted to grow by approximately 37% over the next few years and the field will continue to grow. o Impact on other healthcare professionals: Audiologists have assisted certain types of physicians such as ENTs and are sometimes seen as adjuncts to primary care physicians. They may also work alongside hearing aid dispensers to provide audiological care. Sometimes this can cause confusion among consumers seeking hearing care about the different roles of professionals..