RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Advanced Practice Providers in Departments of Family Medicine: Status, Supervision, and Services
JF The Journal of the American Board of Family
                Medicine
JO J Am Board Fam Med
FD American Board of Family Medicine
SP 1058
OP 1061
DO 10.3122/jabfm.2023.230121R1
VO 36
IS 6
A1 Williams, Maribeth
A1 Carek, Stephen M.
A1 Mainous, Arch G.
A1 Malaty, John
A1 Naous, Jihane
A1 Carek, Peter J.
YR 2023
UL http://www.jabfm.org/content/36/6/1058.abstract
AB Background: Nurse practitioners (NP), physician assistants (PA), and other advanced practice providers (APP) are one solution to meet health care workforce shortage. Our study examined clinical workforce decisions and perceptions of APPs and family physicians (FPs) from the perspective of a national survey chairs of Departments of Family Medicine.Methods: A survey was developed and distributed to family medicine department chairs as identified by the Association of Departments of Family Medicine (ADFM). In addition to demographic information, respondents were asked if their department directly employs APPs, major factors influencing departments of family medicine to hire APPs, services to patients currently being provided by APPs, and services preferentially provided by APPs. Descriptive statistics were reviewed. Bivariate analyses and Chi-square were computed comparing perceptions of APPs and FPs by how these types of health care providers are currently used in the respondent’s clinical operation.Results: The overall response rate for the survey was 48.4% (109/225). Most departments of family medicine (62.4%) use APPs. Access to care and filing gaps in team-based care are the primary factors for APP employment. Although most departments have APPs provide services that include complex chronic conditions complicated by coexisting conditions or not yet controlled, most department chairs do not prefer APPs provide these services.Discussion: The role APPs in terms of specific patient care activities and services in the health care team of departments of family medicine is often in conflict with preferred roles as delineated by the chair.