Many specialty medical practices have incorporated physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) into their health care to improve access to services, reduce wait times, and improve quality of care. A study by the Center for the Health Professions at the University of California, San Francisco, examined these emerging models to evaluate their success and identify strategies that could be replicated. The study focused on care in three specialties with particularly high demand rates: orthopedics, gastroenterology, and dermatology.
The study found a number of models in which the use of PAs and NPs has maintained or improved quality of care and reduced wait times, while proving financially sustainable for the practice. The challenges include the need for on-the-job training, supervision, and mentoring. The models described include:
Orthopedics
- Kaiser Permanente Fontana Medical Center, Orthopedic Department, Fontana, CA
- St. John's Clinic – Orthopedic Specialists, Springfield, MO
Gastroenterology
- University of Florida, Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition, Gainesville, FL
- Digestive Health Specialists, Federal Way, WA
Dermatology
- Dermatology Clinic, Salem, OR
- Central Carolina Dermatology Clinic, High Point, NC
The report highlights several important implications for practices in California, particularly for community clinics and public hospitals that are facing patient demand for specialty services exceeding capacity.
The complete report is available under Document Downloads.