Fewer and fewer doctors are providing abortion care.  For a woman, this shortage means she may not get the care she needs.  But doctors are not the only healthcare providers that can address women’s need for abortion care.  In several states, physician assistants, nurse-midwives, and nurse practitioners have joined the ranks of highly-trained healthcare providers offering abortion. Collectively called advanced practice clinicians (APCs), these healthcare providers have already made abortion services more available to women.  APCs are poised to play a significant role in ensuring women’s access to safe abortion care.

What if more physician assistants, nurse-midwives, and nurse practitioners provided women with the services they need? What if these APCs were given the training and support necessary to deliver safe abortion care?

AAP’s work with APCs acts on the belief that more providers mean better access for women and that APCs are an important part of making this a reality. Our goal is to support the practice of abortion care by APCs wherever possible.  Following the path of pioneering clinicians who have long been providing abortion, we are creating sustainable opportunities for APCs to become abortion providers.  We conduct state level legal research to assess APCs’ legal ability to provide abortion services.  Where legally allowed, our on-the-ground organizers recruit interested APCs and connect them with training.  Working with stakeholders and clinicians, we are building networks of providers to help develop professional community and support.

Thanks to efforts of AAP and collaborators, APC providers are offering abortion care in 15 states nationwide.  Engaging physician assistants, nurse-midwives, and nurse practitioners to provide women with the safe services they need is one of the many ways AAP is using innovative solutions to address gaps in abortion access.