The Rise of the Nurse Practitioner as a Self-Employed Micro-Corporation: A New Paradigm

The Physician Shortage and Marketplace Evolution

As a physician, I understand that the topic of Nurse Practitioners (NPs) stepping into the marketplace as independent practitioners can stir debate among the healthcare community. However, there’s no denying that we’re facing a monumental shift in healthcare. The physician shortage, combined with increasing patient demand for accessible, personalized care, is creating room for NPs to expand into roles historically held by physicians. And, as someone who has worked alongside NPs for over 25 years and trained many in my own practice, I see this as a natural evolution in our field. It’s also why I believe that NPs—just like doctors—deserve the opportunity to choose a career path that aligns with their professional goals and personal autonomy, including independent practice or direct primary care.

For context, physicians undergo nearly 20 times the training hours as NPs. This depth of medical education is essential, especially in preparing physicians to handle the most complex and acute cases. In fact, when I’ve trained new NPs, I’ve often likened their early stage of practice to that of a resident physician, requiring three years of practice to hone their clinical acumen fully. In many ways, this additional experience is critical to building the judgment needed for truly independent practice. Nevertheless, NPs are a vital part of the care continuum, and they bring a fresh approach and valuable skill set to the table.

In some states, NPs are permitted to practice completely independently, and in others, they are required to have physician collaborators, even though many set up practices that effectively function autonomously. I currently serve as a collaborator for an NP operating in this type of arrangement, and I can tell you firsthand that NPs are not only here to stay—they are thriving, often in areas where physician shortages are critical.

Moving Towards a New Model of Care

Given this reality, I believe it’s time we consider a new model of care that embraces a more inclusive view of healthcare professionals as self-sufficient practitioners. SimpliMD was founded on the principle that physicians can take control of their careers, seeing themselves as empowered micro-corporations that serve the market directly. As such, it only makes sense to support NPs and other allied health professionals in taking on this vision as well.

Many NPs are already thinking along these lines, pursuing independent practice much like physicians are. One of the NPs I know has even organized a Healer’s Summit Virtual Conference November 6th and 7th to help fellow NPs explore alternative professional skills and innovative practice models. She invited me to speak at one of her events—a pivotal moment that made me reflect on my own mission with SimpliMD. Initially, I envisioned SimpliMD as a platform exclusively for physicians. Yet, the growing demand among other healthcare professionals to access this kind of knowledge, along with the support that can help them succeed independently, made me realize that we should widen the door.

Embracing a Multi-Disciplinary Community

At SimpliMD, we’re dedicated to the vision of supporting self-employed, micro-corporate healthcare professionals. This includes MDs and DOs, but there is also room for NPs, PAs, and even other healthcare practitioners like chiropractors. Empowering this broader group doesn’t detract from our commitment to physicians—it enhances it by creating a multidisciplinary community where all members can learn from each other, innovate, and elevate their care models.

This approach is not about diluting our focus but rather embracing the diverse landscape of healthcare today. Patients are increasingly choosing to see healthcare providers outside the traditional insurance-based model, gravitating toward providers who prioritize patient-centered, affordable care. Why should only physicians have access to the knowledge and resources necessary to start a successful independent practice?

Join Me at a Free Online Conference

In the spirit of sharing knowledge and fostering community, I’m excited to announce an opportunity for you to participate in a free online Healer’s Summit where I’ll be speaking on empowering healthcare professionals to view themselves as entrepreneurs and micro-business owners in a rapidly changing field. There will be several physician speakers contributing to this event, bringing perspectives that span various practice types and models.

I want you to meet my friend, Nurse Susan who has created a powerful free tool for adults and practitioners like you that are looking for alternative health solutions to add to your own wellness program or to your practice, to help your patients.

Nurse Susan discovered the value of alternative and holistic treatments during her own health journey with a progressive neurological movement disorder. Unhappy with the intolerable side effects of the anti-seizure medication used to manage her movements, Nurse Susan began searching for alternatives. Surprisingly, her research repeatedly showed cannabis as an effective treatment for, not only movement disorders, but seizure disorders, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's Disease, autoimmune disease, cancer, etc. Since then, as a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner, she has worked with thousands of patients to utilize cannabis for their health issues.

Now, her mission is to raise awareness among patients and practitioners about effective, science-backed alternative treatment modalities that will improve patient outcomes and patient satisfaction. Her mission has turned into a massive online event, and features video interviews with top experts in the field of alternative holistic health, including myself as I speak about professional independence.

This event is called: "The Healers’ Summit, and I have a complimentary ticket for you to attend. You can register using this link

This event will be aired on November 6th & 7th, starting at 9am PT., and then replayed until midnight November 8th for those who cannot attend the event.

Two Way Street

Ultimately, this ground breaking initiative to promote collaboration with NP’s as fellow self-employed professionals represents a two-way street: a chance for both physicians and NPs to learn, grow, and adapt within a shared ecosystem of independent practice. So, whether you’re a physician ready to step into self-employment or an NP looking to make your mark in a direct care setting, SimpliMD will continue to support your journey. We’re committed to a marketplace where all medical providers can thrive as self-empowered micro-corporations, reshaping healthcare to meet the needs of today’s patients.

I invite you to sign up for this free virtual conference, and let’s take the next steps together toward building a healthcare system where independence, autonomy, and innovation can flourish for all.