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Medical Practices Look to Advanced Practice Providers to Help Boost Patient Satisfaction

by Thomas R. Collins •

Tom Collins is a freelance medical writer based in Florida.

Take-Home Points

  • Physician assistants and nurse practitioners can boost patient volume, free up physician time, and help a practice’s bottom line.
  • APPs can perform a variety of tasks and procedures, depending on their experience and comfort level, which can take time to develop.
  • Communicating with and respecting the roles of APPs are extremely important.
  • Smart hiring and training are vital to ensure a successful APP.

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Advanced Care Providers, By the Numbers

158,348 Number of nurse practitioners working in U.S. clinical practice.
73,893 Number of physician assistants working in U.S. clinical practice.
17.5% Percentage of visits during which patients are attended by a PA or NP.
39% Estimated percentage of growth the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts in the demand for PAs by 2018.
Source: U.S Department of Health and Human Services