Jill Toliver, FNP and Gretchen Moen, PNP Owners, Nurse Practitioners Mendota Health, Eagan, MN

What have been your biggest challenges?

One big hurdle for us has been trying to get into an independent provider network. These networks allow their members to provide services to the medical assistance HMO's, purchase supplies and vaccines, and have a referral network. One IPN has already rejected Mendota Health's application due to the lack of physician ownership.

The search for a collborative phsyician was an "eye opener" for us. We were amazed at the poor understanding of what was necessary and required for collaboration by our physician colleagues. We were also surprised at what physcians believed was "fair compensation" for that collaboration. We now have both a pediatrician and family physician working one day a week each as part of the team.