Advanced practice providers, including nurse practitioners and physician assistants, are critical to the future of healthcare. Discover how these clinical professionals bring unmatched value to health leaders, care teams, health organizations, and patient

<h2>Advanced Practice Providers (APPs)</h2>


 Although APPs may be referred to by different names &ndash;
 advanced practice providers, advanced practice professionals, or advanced
 practitioners, there&rsquo;s no doubt they
 are critical to the future of healthcare.



 This rapidly growing and extremely valuable group of health professionals
 includes:


<ul>
 <li>Advanced practice registered nurses (APRN)</li>
 <li>Nurse practitioners (NP)</li>
 <li>Physician assistants (PA)</li>
 <li>Certified nurse midwives (CNM)</li>
 <li>Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA)</li>
</ul>


 They are educated, they are passionate, and they are essential.


<h2>The Conundrum of Care, Compounded by COVID</h2>


 Healthcare challenges continue to grow, and existing problems are exacerbated
 by COVID. The list is long, but here are a few:


<ul style="list-style:none;">
 <li>
 A growing population of seniors, many of whom have
 chronic conditions
 </li>
 <li>
 A contingent of physicians who are reaching
 retirement
 </li>
 <li>
 Providers who are leaving the field due to
 burnout or other personal reasons
 </li>
 <li>
 A scarcity of doctors in rural areas and
 other underserved regions
 </li>
 <li>
 Healthcare professionals who have recently become ill, quarantined, or
 otherwise impacted by COVID-19
 </li>
</ul>

<h2>A Look at the Numbers</h2>

Within the next decade&hellip;


 The predicted physician shortage is expected to fall roughly
 between 47,000 and 122,000 (<a
 href="https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/press-releases/new-findings-confirm-predictions-physician-shortage"
 >AAMC</a
 >).


However&hellip;


 The number of nurse practitioners in the U.S. is expected to
 grow by 26% and



 The number of physician assistants is expected to
 grow by 31% (<a
 href="https://www.bls.gov/OOH/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm#tab-6"
 >BLS</a
 >).



 This means we should have nearly half a million advanced
 practice providers within the next ten years.



 Advanced practice providers are clearly a key component of the
 solution.


<h2>Why Advanced Practice Providers Are Increasingly Valuable</h2>


 Indeed, an advanced practice provider is not the equivalent of a physician.
 There are countless situations in which a medical doctor&rsquo;s training and
 experience are unparalleled and irreplaceable. However, considering the
 stringent expectations, advanced clinical training, increasing autonomy, and
 growing numbers of APPs in the field, health leaders should consider these
 professionals as a valuable solution.


Here&rsquo;s why&hellip;

<ul style="list-style:none;">
 <li>
 They are highly educated, trained, and qualified. Advanced
 practice providers&rsquo; educational requirements are becoming more
 strenuous. They hold bachelor&#39;s, master&rsquo;s, or doctoral degrees. By
 the time they are certified, they will have had rigorous training, and they
 will have numerous clinical hours under their belts.
 </li>
 <li>
 Their scope is expanding. More and more states are granting
 APPs
 <a
 href="https://www.aanp.org/advocacy/advocacy-resource/policy-briefs/issues-full-practice-brief"
 >full practice authority</a
 >. Currently, in 22 states plus Washington, D.C., nurse practitioners have
 autonomy. Other states may soon follow, as the National Academy of Medicine
 and the National Council of State Boards of Nursing push for full practice
 authority in primary care.
 </li>
 <li>
 State licensure is becoming more flexible. The
 <a href="https://www.ncsbn.org/nurse-licensure-compact.htm"
 >Nurse Licensure Compact</a
 >(NLC) now includes most states in the U.S. It allows for increased access
 to care while protecting patients at the state level. Further, APPs have
 even greater increased access to
 <a
 href="https://www.crosscountrylocums.com/blogs/state-licensure-waivers-to-expand-care-for-coronavirus"
 >interstate licensure due to coronavirus</a
 >.
 </li>
 <li>
 APPs are in demand. There has been a massive effort by
 universities and colleges to promote advanced practice provider programs.
 Further, health organizations are seeking these providers, and healthcare
 talent agencies are recruiting their services.
 </li>
 <li>
 Many professionals are choosing to become APPs instead of
 physicians. The appeal of life as an APP has drawn many professionals away from
 pursuing a career as a physician. Advanced practice professionals can enjoy
 the benefits of clinical practice with less schooling, lower college debt,
 reduced stress, and better hours. While they do forfeit that highly
 desirable doctor salary, pay for APPs is on the rise, and it is a
 well-compensated field.
 </li>
 <li>
 APPs come in all shapes and sizes. Advanced practice
 providers can offer general, comprehensive care, or highly specialized
 services. In fact, there are even sub-subspecialties in specific fields.
 There is bound to be the right APP fit for any healthcare organization.
 </li>
 <li>
 They are techy. Many younger APPs are digital natives,
 while others have picked up technological skills along the way. Most are
 adept at learning electronic health records systems quickly. Further, as a
 result of coronavirus, many are transitioning to
 <a href="https://www.crosscountrylocums.com/blogs/telehealth-and-locums"
 >virtual health services</a
 >.
 </li>
 <li>
 They add value. Patients often find that advanced
 practitioners have more time to provide undivided attention so they may
 improve the overall patient experience. Adding APPs to staff may also
 improve throughput and streamline services. They are much more affordable
 than physicians so they can enhance a facility&rsquo;s bottom line.
 </li>
</ul>

<h2>Advanced Practice Provider Locum Support</h2>


 As health leaders face mounting pressures due to COVID-19, advanced practice
 professionals can help ease the burden. Reinforcing your team with advanced
 practitioners, especially with locum tenens APPs, is an effective and
 efficient strategy for the future.



 <a href="https://www.crosscountrylocums.com/contact-us"
 >We&rsquo;re here to help</a
 >.

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