TDNet Discover

Background: Advanced practice providers (APPs) consist of physician associates, previously named physician assistants (PAs), and nurse practitioners (NPs). These medical providers are increasingly present in the emergency department (ED) setting. Because of the numerous differences between APPs, further exploration is warranted to differentiate patient outcomes directly. Objective: This study aims to explore differences in patient outcomes between PAs and NPs in the ED regarding satisfaction, cost, and wait times. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted and utilized various databases to investigate pertinent literature published since 2008. Results: Patient satisfaction, cost of care, and patient wait times all benefited from the presence of APPs in the ED. There was no significant difference in these outcomes between the different types of APPs. Conclusion: The addition of APPs in the ED improved patient outcomes across the board and allowed for further access to care. With an increasing number of ED patients being seen by APPs, these studies showed the positive impacts APPs have. They also shed light on potential future research into APPs in other healthcare settings, including direct comparisons between PAs and NPs, rather than grouping them as APPs, since most of the current literature does not differentiate this.