As workforce shortages persist across the healthcare sector, medical professionals remain in high demand. There seems to be no end in sight for the medical staffing shortfall so healthcare leaders are looking to different solutions to ensure comprehensive patient care. Here, we take a look at how the roles of advanced practice providers (APPs) and physician assistants (PAs) are expanding to meet the overwhelming need for medical professionals.
A Growing Need for Healthcare Professionals
In recent years, a multitude of factors have led to workforce shortages throughout healthcare. Most notably, more than 230,000 healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurse practitioners (NPs), PAs, and other clinicians quit their jobs in 2021. Many left their roles due to the stress and burnout, while others cited retirement as their reason for leaving. The phenomenon, known as the “Great Resignation,” left countless openings that healthcare organizations have scrambled to fill.
How APPs & PAs Can Help to Fill the Gaps
Recruiting doctors has proven especially challenging amid staffing shortages, so many healthcare leaders have sought to fill their openings by enlisting the help of other clinicians. APP roles, in particular, have been a promising alternative. Up to 65% of medical groups added APP roles in 2023, and PA jobs are expected to grow by 28% through 2031, which far outpaces the national average.
These statistics serve as proof that healthcare leaders are confident in the abilities of APPs and PAs to fill the gaps created by physician shortages. These clinicians receive training in the same sciences that physicians do and follow the same models when practicing medicine, thereby creating a similar patient experience. In general, most APPs and PAs can perform 70 to 80 percent of the services a physician can provide. PAs diagnose, treat, and help to prevent illness, and can work independently with supervision from a licensed physician or surgeon. The roles of APPs vary by state, with some areas granting these clinicians more autonomy than others.
Regardless of these regional differences, APPs and PAs are becoming an integral part of your healthcare teams and collaborate with physicians to create a seamless patient experience and comprehensive care.
The Evolving Roles of PAs and APPs
As PAs and APPs become increasingly sought after, their roles have continued to evolve in recent years. Now more than ever, we’re seeing these providers take on hospital leadership roles and become more deeply involved in education and research. They’re also taking on roles in subspecialties, including pediatrics.
Recognizing the value PAs and APPs provide the medical community, many legislators have pushed for an expansion of their roles. At the state and federal levels, legislation has changed to improve prescriptive authority, while telemedicine has also fueled the expansion of their scope of practice.
If you’re seeking clinicians to staff your NICU, turn to Ensearch for your healthcare organization’s staffing needs. We specialize in filling openings with qualified locum or full-time professionals for hospitals looking to expand their workforce. Start your search by scheduling a consultation with Ensearch today.
