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More advanced practitioners on the horizon

Hospitalist Leadership Connection, March 3, 2009

Medical organizations are increasing the number of advanced practitioners (PAs, NPs, and certified registered nurse anesthetists) on staff to support physicians, according to the Cejka Search and the American Medical Group Association (AMGA) "2008 Physician Retention Survey," released on March 2.

Nearly 96% of the 50 respondents, who collectively employ nearly 10,000 physicians across the country, represent multi-specialty groups. Of those 96%, 65% said they provide a hospitalist service.

According to the survey, which was conducted between October and December 2008, advanced practitioners take on the following roles:

• Provide care delivery by supporting primary and specialty patient care during physician shortage
• Assist specialists and surgeons
• Enhance patient capacity by seeing their own patient populations and meeting increasing volume
• Serve as physician extenders as a vital part of the team or compliment physicians’ skills

The majority (94%) of respondents said their organizations utilized advanced practitioners. Half of those respondents plan to maintain the current number of advanced practitioners, and the other half (46%) plans to increase advanced practitioner staffing levels.

The survey also provided advanced practitioner data regarding hospitalist services:

• 20% of practices that utilize PAs offer hospitalist specialty service
• 26% of practices that utilize NPs offer hospitalist specialty service

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