Why you should hire an NP or PA for your facility

As a labor shortage persists in the healthcare industry, nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) have become increasingly prevalent and important for meeting patient needs. For example, according to a study published in BMJ, the share of U.S. medical visits delivered by NPs and PAs increased from 14% to 26% from 2013 to 2019.

NPs and PAs can be valuable resources for healthcare organizations that need to address staffing challenges. These advanced practice providers can even be hired on a temporary basis during peak seasons, leaves of absence, or unexpected vacancies, successfully integrating with staff and providing the care patients need. Here’s why hiring an NP or PA for your facility might be a smart move.

NP and PA roles are expanding

Typically, NPs and PAs operate as independent clinical practitioners under the direction of a collaborating physician. The exact responsibilities of a supervising physician may vary by state; for example, in Tennessee, the supervising physician must review at least 20% of the charts monitored or written by the PA, with additional requirements in some cases.

No longer just support staff, NPs and PAs increasingly take on primary care roles including prescribing medications and managing patient care independently. In some states, NPs can practice independently without physician oversight. And PAs are also moving toward greater independence, with some now serving as hospitalists, intensivists, and participating in graduate medical education, according to the American Journal of Managed Care.

3 benefits of hiring NPs and PAs

By hiring NPs and PAs to round out their clinical workforce, healthcare facilities can realize several important benefits, including:

• Enhancing patient care. NPs and PAs can perform a supplemental role, handling tasks delegated by physicians, or they can play a complementary role, performing tasks that their collaborating doctors do not provide. Having additional providers available can significantly improve patient satisfaction. The care delivered by NPs and PAs is comparable in quality to that provided by physicians, with similar patient outcomes, but at a lower labor cost, research shows.

• Addressing physician shortages. NPs and PAs provide expertise that can alleviate pressure on busy physicians and help ensure continuity of care. For example, in primary care, PAs and NPs are able to provide the care needed by up to 90% of patients, freeing physicians to focus on more complex or serious cases, according to the Journal of Rural Health.

• Reducing physician burnout. When physicians are able to rely on assistance from trusted collaborators like NPs and PAs, they can focus on more complex cases, free their minds of unnecessary tasks, and improve their ability to balance the demands of work with the rest of their lives.

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NPs and PAs can work as locum tenens providers

In most healthcare facilities, staffing needs fluctuate regularly. Hiring staff NPs and PAs may be tricky, because the current need might shift any time. That’s why temporary solutions can be ideal for flexibility and coverage. Locum tenens providers offer short-term or long-term solutions for staffing gaps.

In addition to providing flexibility, locum tenens also can be cost effective. Staff hires come with hefty overhead expenses, including costs for recruitment and background checks, technology setup, employee health benefits, continuing medical education, and employee retirement plan contributions. With locums, healthcare facilities can avoid these costs and quickly get a vetted professional on the job to help manage the patient load.

Key considerations for successful integration of NPs and PAs

It’s crucial to establish clear communication channels and foster a collaborative environment to maximize the value of NPs and PAs. For example, collaborating physicians, PAs, and NPs should all be informed about their specific roles and expectations. Also, staff leaders should regularly communicate with team members to uncover any problems and determine how to resolve them.

To keep medical teams performing at their best, healthcare facilities should also provide ongoing support and professional development opportunities. These opportunities should include physicians as well as advanced practice professionals like NPs and PAs and can involve online or in-person educational options.

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NPs and PAs can be a net positive to healthcare systems

Hospital and healthcare leaders who need to manage staffing challenges in a flexible, cost-effective way can benefit from considering NPs and PAs, especially in a locum capacity. These advanced practice professionals can enhance patient care by providing additional staff and managing routine healthcare, freeing physicians to handle more complex or serious cases. They can also help address physician shortages and reduce burnout among physicians by helping manage the workload. As demand for healthcare continues to increase, NPs and PAs play a crucial role in meeting the evolving needs of the healthcare landscape.

Weatherby Healthcare can help you solve your healthcare organization’s staffing challenges. Give us a call at 954.343.3050 to learn more.