Impact of the Advanced Practice Provider in Adult Critical Care: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis*

Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants: Building a Team and Optimizing Practice in the Medical ICU

The integration of nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) into the medical ICU (MICU) is becoming increasingly vital due to the rising number of critically ill patients and the shortage of board-certified intensivists. Successful recruitment and utilization of NPs and PAs in the MICU setting require a unique understanding of potential variations of the scope of practice based on state law and educational backgrounds, as well as the implementation of best practices around training and leadership support. The purpose of this article was to review the best strategies for creating a MICU team with NPs and PAs. Key strategies for identifying suitable NP and PA candidates include assessing their education, certification, licensure, and clinical experience, particularly in critical care settings. It is important for organizations to have structured orientation programs, which should define roles, establish clear reporting structures, and provide competency-based training to ensure effective team integration. Simulation-based training and professional mentoring are emphasized as critical elements for developing clinical competency and promoting job satisfaction. There are variations in state laws and institutional policies that affect NP and PA practice that should be understood by the organization to manage expectations for the NP and PA job responsibilities. Effective productivity measurement methods are proposed to accurately assess the contributions of NPs and PAs in the MICU. This article provides comprehensive strategies for successfully hiring, onboarding, and integrating these professionals into MICU teams, ensuring high-quality care delivery in critical care settings.

Organizational structure for surgical critical care advanced practice providers in an academic teaching hospital

ABSTRACT

Establishing a high-functioning team of advanced practice providers (APPs) with optimal teamwork and procedural skill capability provides marked improvement in areas of utilization, communication, knowledge, and billing. Herein is an example of a maximally operational clinical team of critical care APPs as a solution to providing quality care, managing costs, and providing healthcare access for many patients admitted to the ICU. APP job satisfaction is safeguarded by focusing on enhanced areas of clinical practice, professional growth and development, scope of practice, and safety and quality improvement. Further fulfillment is ensured with optimized utilization of both physician associates (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs). This, in turn, allows for further healthcare availability, elevation in the quality of medical care, and improved cost management, all while APPs work at the top of their license in high-acuity ICUs.

Implementation of an interprofessional staffing model: Utilizing nurse practitioners and the eICU

BACKGROUND

There is a growing demand for intensive care unit (ICU) providers at the time of physician shortages, increased provider burnout, and attrition. Evidence supports safe utilization of nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) in the ICU.

LOCAL PROBLEM

An ICU team using intensivists (medical doctors) and doctors of osteopathic medicine, NPs, and PAs experiencing staffing challenges because of staff shortages and increased clinical responsibilities.

METHODS

An evidence-based pre-post quality improvement project.

INTERVENTION

Utilization of NPs and PAs overnight instead of intensivists in a community medical/surgical ICU with electronic ICU support. Primary measures were mortality, procedural complications, central line-associated bloodstream infection, and catheter-associated urinary tract infections preimplementation and postimplementation. Secondary measure was qualitative data on facilitators and barriers to implementation.

RESULTS

Catheter-associated urinary tract infection rates preimplementation and postimplementation were zero. Central line-associated bloodstream infection rates decreased from one pre to zero post. Procedural complication rate decreased by 0.4% (p = .687). The survey had an 80% response rate, with >90% answering that implementation positively affected quality and communication. Communication, collaboration, focus on quality care, and increased accessibility were identified as facilitators. Role understanding, acceptance, and communication with other services were identified as barriers.

CONCLUSION

A collaborative model of care using NPs and PAs overnight in a community ICU is a feasible, safe, and effective staffing solution. The hybrid model provided additional support for NPs, PAs, and nursing staff, which helped with transition and overall satisfaction. Further research on NP and PA implementation in a hybrid model is needed on a national, multisite scale.

Advanced practice nursing, critical care, and Spain: A point of view

Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) continues to gain recognition. Despite the guidelines published by the International Council of Nurses in 2020, there is still some confusion about this concept. In general, APN is used in three different and not necessarily compatible ways: as an umbrella term that regulates four different roles, as a level of practice, or as a role itself. Specialization in nursing does not always imply advanced practice, although both concepts are not mutually exclusive. The "Acute Care Nurse Practitioners" in the United States can conduct physical examinations and medical histories, diagnose, prescribe medications, or request and interpret complementary tests. They pose no risk to patients and have shown positive clinical outcomes in Critical Care Units. They also add "value" by improving communication, interprofessional coordination, or adherence to protocols. The "Clinical Nurse Specialists" in Critical Care help improve quality, staff education, and provide care to complex patients. They have a beneficial impact on reducing nosocomial infections, adverse events, hospital stay, or costs. The implementation of APN roles in Spain faces challenges due to its circumstances, such as the high number of physicians or the lack of systematic and transparent measurement of outcomes. Historically, the nursing corporation has promoted a disproportionately positive view of the Spanish healthcare system and nursing. The corporation has followed the model of medical specialization without supporting studies and a framework that hinders its integration into APN. The orthodox vision of Spanish nursing still holds significant weight, where experience is valued more than education, complicating the expansion of competencies. Numerous regional projects have been developed without a unified voice or approach. APN should not be a distraction from continuing to advocate for improvements in nurses' working conditions.

[Hemodynamic monitoring- (NOT) a nursing task?!]

Ensuring adequate and stable hemodynamic conditions is an essential component of patient care in emergency and intensive care units. The assessment of circulatory status is complex and influenced by patient-specific characteristics, medical staff experience, and available equipment. Hemodynamic monitoring encompasses both invasive and noninvasive methods to monitor circulatory parameters. It supports patient management and ensures therapeutic success by alerting healthcare providers to deviations, including critical values. In practice, numerical data often receive more emphasis than comprehensive patient observation, potentially leading to misinterpretation. Advanced practice nurses (APNs) are highly qualified nursing professionals who work largely autonomously due to their advanced training. However, there is currently no uniform legal regulation for these professions in Germany. Clear definitions and nationwide regulations for related academic programs are necessary. Interprofessional collaboration, as well as the qualifications and numbers of nursing staff, significantly impact therapeutic outcomes. Hemodynamics involves the physical principles of blood flow and the assessment of vital parameters to ensure organ perfusion and oxygenation. The competence and knowledge of nursing staff are crucial for safe patient care. Local standard operating procedures (SOPs) should consider interprofessional collaboration and the qualifications of team members.

The roles and responsibilities of advanced practice nurses in intensive care units: A scoping review

INTRODUCTION

Since the intensive care units are one of the most sensitive hospital settings and critically ill patients undergo various stressful factors that put their lives in danger, a more advanced level of nursing practice is imperative to accommodate these issues and provide optimal care of patients.

OBJECTIVES

To review the literature describing the roles and activities performed by advanced practice nurses in intensive care units.

REVIEW METHODS

We conducted a scoping review to search published articles using Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Science Direct, MEDLINE (EBSCOhost) and Cochrane Library during a 10-year period from 2013 to 2023.

RESULTS

We identified 729 records, from which eleven articles were included in the review. We included six reviews and five original articles or research papers. With regard to the target area of our review, we used the information provided by these studies and categorized the contents related to the roles of advanced practice nurses in intensive care units into five sections, including direct practice, education and counseling, research, collaboration, and leadership.

CONCLUSION

Advanced practice nurses are essential members of critical care team by playing various roles in practice, education, research, collaboration, and leadership, and therefore, they can increase patients' access to critical care and improve healthcare outcomes. The advancement of technology and complexity of care in intensive care units have led to the role expansion of these nurses which results in task-shifting between doctors and nurses. Therefore, it is considered essential for nursing and medical professionals to reach an agreement to establish standardized roles for advanced practice nurses.

Academic training of nurses developing advanced practice roles

The nursing profession, without losing its essence, is in continuous evolution in order to face and respond to the ever-changing health challenges of the population. Advanced Practice Nursing is a clear example of this development. The performance of advanced practice roles entails greater responsibility, expansion and depth of nursing practice, which is only possible with additional education beyond the bachelor's degree - a master's or doctoral degree in nursing - and greater expertise in clinical practice in a particular area of specialization. Advanced practice nursing is intrinsically linked to the level of education since, further academic development of nursing promotes the advancement of autonomous practice. This article addresses the education of Advanced Practice Nurses, and focuses on its core aspects; providing detailed information on competencies, curricular structure, curriculum and key components of training programs. Finally, special mention is made of advanced role training in the critical care setting.

ACNPs in the U.S. Army-Medical Force Multipliers for Large-Scale Combat Operations

Operations in the Middle East have slowed, and near-peer tensions escalate. The U.S. Military has directed its attention from combating insurgencies toward preparedness for large-scale combat operations (LSCOs). The threat of LSCO demands a dramatic shift in strategy and resource and has raised questions about how the military will pivot from the counter-insurgency operations of the previous two decades. Innovation and change are needed to adequately receive, treat, hold, and transport the high volume of anticipated casualties in LSCO. Review of the current deployed medical structure has identified needs to increase emergency medical capabilities near the point of injury, increase patient holding capacity (particularly in critical care) in field hospitals and expeditionary medical facilities, and address likely delayed and prolonged medical evacuation. To address these new challenges, the authors offer recommendations for the addition of Acute Care Nurse Practitioners (ACNPs) to the U.S. Army Medical Department. ACNPs are advanced practice providers, specialized in acute and critical care. ACNPs are a potential medical force multiplier not currently utilized in the U.S. Army. If adapted, ACNPs could contribute significantly to meeting the demands of LSCO medical needs via multiple roles. Recommendations are provided by the authors, such as utilizing the ACNP within the Forward Resuscitative Surgical Detachment, Field Hospital intensive care unit, aeromedical evacuation, and/or Prolonged Care Augmentation Detachment. With support from the U.S. Army Nurse Corp and Army Medical Department, ACNPs could be integrated into the Army healthcare model, emulating the civilian standard of care for every soldier deployed. Furthermore, use of ACNPs in theater could advance deployed medical capabilities and help conserve the fighting force of the U.S. Military and its partners.

Discharge in the a.m.: A randomized controlled trial of physician rounding styles to improve hospital throughput and length of stay

BACKGROUND

To relieve hospital capacity strain, hospitals often encourage clinicians to prioritize early morning discharges which may have unintended consequences.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to test the effects of hospitalist physicians prioritizing discharging patients first compared to usual rounding style.

DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Prospective, multi-center randomized controlled trial. Three large academic hospitals. Participants were Hospital Medicine attending-level physicians and patients the physicians cared for during the study who were at least 18 years of age, admitted to a Medicine service, and assigned by standard practice to a hospitalist team.

INTERVENTION

Physicians were randomized to: (1) prioritizing discharging patients first as care allowed or (2) usual practice.

MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES

Main outcome measure was discharge order time. Secondary outcomes were actual discharge time, length of stay (LOS), and order times for procedures, consults, and imaging.

RESULTS

From February 9, 2021, to July 31, 2021, 4437 patients were discharged by 59 physicians randomized to prioritize discharging patients first or round per usual practice. In primary adjusted analyses (intention-to-treat), findings showed no significant difference for discharge order time (13:03 ± 2 h:31 min vs. 13:11 ± 2 h:33 min, p = .11) or discharge time (15:22 ± 2 h:50 min vs. 15:21 ± 2 h:50 min, p = .45), for physicians randomized to prioritize discharging patients first compared to physicians using usual rounding style, respectively, and there was no significant change in LOS or on order times of other physician orders.

CONCLUSIONS

Prioritizing discharging patients first did not result in significantly earlier discharges or reduced LOS.

Intensive care nurse practitioners in Australia: A description of a service model in an adult tertiary intensive care unit

BACKGROUND

Although well-established internationally, nurse practitioners (NPs) in Australian adult intensive care units (ICUs) are rare. Australian literature clearly highlights the importance of creating ICU NP roles to meet emerging demands. An ICU NP model of care at a metropolitan hospital in Sydney provides care in four core practice areas: complex case management, vascular access, tracheostomy management, and intrahospital transport of critically ill patients. The ICU NPs also provide training and assessment for ICU nurses and medical officers in these same core practice areas and can efficiently meet service gaps in crisis such as the most recent COVID-19 pandemic.

RESULTS

The ICU NP program described is an innovative model of care that has demonstrated potential benefits to patients and their families. Potential benefits to the healthcare system including supporting advanced practice nursing development in regional and rural Australia and in addressing future ICU workforce issues are also identified. This model of care provides a clear role and structure for the integration of NPs in the adult ICU. Research to evaluate the impact of the role is required and is underway.

CONCLUSIONS

This model is being used to develop a national adult ICU NP fellowship training program for ICU transitional NPs preparing for endorsement or endorsed NPs who require additional ICU-specific training. This immersive clinical training program combined with didactic learning modules offers a framework to support the implementation of the adult ICU NP role as well as a framework for NP fellowship programs in other specialties.

Advanced Practice Providers as Leaders of a Rapid Response Team: A Prospective Cohort Study

In view of the shortage of medical staff, the quality and continuity of care may be improved by employing advanced practice providers (APPs). This study aims to assess the quality of these APPs in critical care. In a large teaching hospital, rapid response team (RRT) interventions led by APPs were assessed by independent observers and intensivists and compared to those led by medical residents MRs. In addition to mortality, the MAELOR tool (assessment of RRT intervention), time from RRT call until arrival at the scene and time until completion of clinical investigations were assessed. Process outcomes were assessed with the crisis management skills checklist, the Ottawa global rating scale and the Mayo high-performance teamwork scale. The intensivists assessed performance with the handoff CEX recipient scale. Mortality, MAELOR tool, time until arrival and clinical investigation in both groups were the same. Process outcomes and performance observer scores were also equal. The CEX recipient scores, however, showed differences between MRs and APPs that increased with experience. Experienced APPs had significantly better situational awareness, better organization, better evaluations and better judgment than MRs with equal experience (p < 0.05). This study shows that APPs perform well in leading an RRT and may provide added quality over a resident. RRTs should seriously consider the deployment of APPs instead of junior clinicians.

An Effective Model for Unit-Based Advanced Practice Provider/Physician Collaboration on a Complex Medicine Hospital Unit

Advanced practice provider care effectively improves outcomes and reduces costs. During COVID-19 challenges and staffing shortages, a team developed and piloted a collaborative advanced practice provider/physician hospital medicine model that resulted in improved outcomes, costs, and quality metrics, including increased productivity and revenue, decreased length of stay, and decreased medical emergency team/rapid response calls.

Advanced practice providers versus medical residents as leaders of rapid response teams: A 12-month retrospective analysis

Purpose

In a time of worldwide physician shortages, the advanced practice providers (APPs) might be a good alternative for physicians as the leaders of a rapid response team. This retrospective analysis aimed to establish whether the performance of APP-led rapid response teams is comparable to the performance of rapid response teams led by a medical resident of the ICU.

Material and methods

In a retrospective single-center cohort study, the electronic medical record of a tertiary hospital was queried during a 12-months period to identify patients who had been visited by our rapid response team. Patient- and process-related outcomes of interventions of rapid response teams led by an APP were compared with those of teams led by a medical resident using various parameters, including the MAELOR tool, which measures the performance of a rapid response team.

Results

In total, 179 responses of the APP-led teams were analyzed, versus 275 responses of the teams led by a resident. Per APP, twice as many calls were handled than per resident. Interventions of teams led by APPs, and residents did not differ in number of admissions (p = 0.87), mortality (p = 0.8), early warning scores (p = 0.2) or MAELOR tool triggering (p = 0.19). Both groups scored equally on time to admission (p = 0.67) or time until any performed intervention.

Conclusion

This retrospective analysis showed that the quality of APP-led rapid response teams was similar to the quality of teams led by a resident. These findings need to be confirmed by prospective studies with balanced outcome parameters.

Pilot of rapid implementation of the advanced practice provider in the workflow of an existing tele-critical care program

Incorporating the advanced practice provider (APP) in the delivery of tele critical care medicine (teleCCM) addresses the critical care provider shortage. However, the current literature lacks details of potential workflows, deployment difficulties and implementation outcomes while suggesting that expanding teleCCM service may be difficult. Here, we demonstrate the implementation of a telemedicine APP (eAPP) pilot service within an existing teleCCM program with the objective of determining the feasibility and ease of deployment. The goal is to augment an existing tele-ICU system with a balanced APP service to assess the feasibility and potential impact on the ICU performance in several hospitals affiliated within a large academic center. A REDCap survey was used to assess eAPP workflows, expediency of interventions, duration of tasks, and types of assignments within different service locations. Between 02/01/2021 and 08/31/2021, 204 interventions (across 133 12-h shift) were recorded by eAPP (n_routine = 109 (53.4%); n_urgent = 82 (40.2%); n_emergent = 13 (6.4%). The average task duration was 10.9 ± 6.22 min, but there was a significant difference based on the expediency of the task (F [2; 202] = 3.89; p < 0.022) and type of tasks (F [7; 220] = 6.69; p < 0.001). Furthermore, the eAPP task type and expediency varied depending upon the unit engaged and timeframe since implementation. The eAPP interventions were effectively communicated with bedside staff with only 0.5% of suggestions rejected. Only in 2% cases did the eAPP report distress. In summary, the eAPP can be rapidly deployed in existing teleCCM settings, providing adaptable and valuable care that addresses the specific needs of different ICUs while simultaneously enhancing the delivery of ICU care. Further studies are needed to quantify the input more robustly.

Engaging nurse practitioners and physician assistants to improve patient care and drive productivity in a radiology consult practice at a comprehensive cancer center

BACKGROUND

The demand for health care in the United States is increasing because of an aging population and an increase in the number of individuals insured. This has led to requests to revamp the primary care infrastructure fundamentally.

LOCAL PROBLEM

The optimal use of nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) is still a subject of debate, but recently, it was reported that for many medical conditions, NP and PA-managed care outcomes are consistent with physician-managed care outcomes.

METHODS

Radiologists' productivity was measured according to relative value units (RVUs)/shift and professional billing changes. Patient care metrics measured were prescribed protocol to patient appointment lead time and number of same-day prescribed imaging protocol changes.

INTERVENTIONS

The focus was on radiologists' productivity and patient care for three months before and three months after integrating NP and PA into our abdominal radiology consult service.

RESULTS

We observed significant increases in the mean RVUs/shift (15.2 ± 0.9 vs. 6.2 ± 1.8; p = .02), studies read per shift (10.1 ± 0.5 vs. 4.4 ± 1.5; p = .003), revenue per shift hour ($756.20 ± 55.40 vs. $335.40 ± 32.60; p = .007), and protocol prescription to patient appointment lead time (39.3 ± 6.7 days vs. 16.3 ± 2.9 days; p = .005) and saw significant decreases in the mean prescribed CT (19.3 ± 0.6 vs. 3.3 ± 0.6; p = .001) and MRI (11.7 ± 0.6 vs. 8.30 ± 0.12; p = .011) same day protocol changes in NP and PA integrated workflow.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that NP and PA can be effectively integrated into the abdominal radiology consult service, increasing radiologists' productivity and enhancing clinical care.

PAs and NPs improve patient care and productivity in a radiology consult practice

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects on efficiency and patient care of the addition of physician assistants (PAs) and NPs to the abdominal radiology consult service.

METHODS

We obtained radiologist productivity and patient care metrics for 3 months before and 3 months after the integration of PAs and NPs into our consult service.

RESULTS

Integrating PAs and NPs into the workflow led to a significant increase in mean RVUs/shift (15.2 ± 0.9 versus 6.2 ± 1.8; P = .02), number of studies read per shift (10.1 ± 0.5 versus 4.4 ± 1.5; P = .003), revenue per shift hour ($756.20 ± $55.40 versus $335.40 ± $132.60; P = .007), protocol prescription to patient appointment lead time (39.3 ± 6.7 versus 16.3 ± 2.9 days; P = .005), and significant decreases in mean CT (19.3% ± 0.6 versus 3.3% ± 0.6; P = .001) and MRI (11.7% ± 0.6 versus 8.3% ± 0.12; P = .011) same-day protocol changes as patient appointments.

CONCLUSIONS

PAs and NPs can be effectively integrated into abdominal radiology consult service, increasing the productivity of radiologists, and enhancing clinical care.

The Effectiveness of a Multidisciplinary Electronic Discharge Readiness Tool: Prospective, Single-Center, Pre-Post Study

Background

In the face of hospital capacity strain, hospitals have developed multifaceted plans to try to improve patient flow. Many of these initiatives have focused on the timing of discharges and on lowering lengths of stay, and they have met with variable success. We deployed a novel tool in the electronic health record to enhance discharge communication.

Objective

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a discharge communication tool.

Methods

This was a prospective, single-center, pre-post study. Hospitalist physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs) used the Discharge Today Tool to update patient discharge readiness every morning and at any time the patient status changed throughout the day. Primary outcomes were tool use, time of day the clinician entered the discharge order, time of day the patient left the hospital, and hospital length of stay. We used linear mixed modeling and generalized linear mixed modeling, with team and discharging provider included in all the models to account for patients cared for by the same team and the same provider.

Results

During the pilot implementation period from March 5, 2019, to July 31, 2019, a total of 4707 patients were discharged (compared with 4558 patients discharged during the preimplementation period). A total of 352 clinical staff had used the tool, and 84.85% (3994/4707) of the patients during the pilot period had a discharge status assigned at least once. In a survey, most respondents reported that the tool was helpful (32/34, 94% of clinical staff) and either saved time or did not add additional time to their workflow (21/24, 88% of providers, and 34/34, 100% of clinical staff). Although improvements were not observed in either unadjusted or adjusted analyses, after including starting morning census per team as an effect modifier, there was a reduction in the time of day the discharge order was entered into the electronic health record by the discharging physician and in the time of day the patient left the hospital (decrease of 2.9 minutes per additional patient, P=.07, and 3 minutes per additional patient, P=.07, respectively). As an effect modifier, for teams that included an APP, there was a significant reduction in the time of day the patient left the hospital beyond the reduction seen for teams without an APP (decrease of 19.1 minutes per patient, P=.04). Finally, in the adjusted analysis, hospital length of stay decreased by an average of 3.7% (P=.06).

Conclusions

The Discharge Today tool allows for real time documentation and sharing of discharge status. Our results suggest an overall positive response by care team members and that the tool may be useful for improving discharge time and length of stay if a team is staffed with an APP or in higher-census situations.

The evolving role of advanced practice providers in transplantation: a literature review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Solid organ transplantation is a life-saving procedure, often performed in critically ill patients, and advanced practice providers (APPs) have increasingly been incorporated into the multidisciplinary transplant team. A literature review was performed and reinforces the value of transplant APPs, details their evolving roles and responsibilities, and highlights innovative solutions created to address complex problems.

RECENT FINDINGS

The literature review revealed a deficit of quality quantitative data supporting the utilization of APPs in transplantation. Thus, data regarding the value of APPs in critical care was also analyzed.

SUMMARY

The limited data despite decades long integration of transplant APPs into the multidisciplinary team, suggests there are likely positive outcomes and innovations that go undocumented. Thus, there are missed opportunities for learning and improvement. Transplant programs investing time and mentorship to support APP research will identify strengths and weaknesses within our existing care models, discover cost saving innovations, and continue to optimize the role of APPs in delivering high quality care that is efficient and evidence based.

What is the Resident Perception of Physician Assistants in an Oral and Maxillofacial Training Program?

PURPOSE

Physician assistants (PAs) are not employed in a widespread manner in the academic oral and maxillofacial surgery setting despite being able to assist with resident workload. We aim to measure residents' perception of PAs employed by an academic oral and maxillofacial surgery department after the addition of 2 PAs to the department.

METHODS

The investigators conducted an anonymous cross-sectional survey study addressing resident perception of PA's on reducing their working hours, the scope of PA's role, and the positive and negatives of working with a PA. The survey was distributed to current oral and maxillofacial surgery residents, non-categorical interns, and recent graduates at Parkland Memorial Hospital and John Peter Smith Hospital between November 1, 2020 and January 31, 2021. A follow-up survey to collect demographic data was distributed between May 20, 2021 and June 10, 2021. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the results, with bootstrapping techniques to calculate 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

Investigators contacted 54 residents and recent alumni, and 31 (57%) responded to the original survey and 32 responded to the follow-up survey. All respondents agreed that the addition of PAs decreased resident workload (100%; 95% CI). The majority stated PAs should assist with rounding on inpatients (61%; 95% CI), in hospital consultations (52%; 95% CI), clinic appointments (74%; 95% CI), and patient care coordination (97%; 95% CI). Only 29% (95% CI) stated that PAs should be assisting in the operating room.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study suggest that residents perceive the addition of PAs to the academic oral and maxillofacial surgery program to be beneficial when it comes to reducing overall workload and increasing potential educational opportunities, by assisting with care coordination, outpatient appointments, and inpatient rounding.

Skills, competencies, and policies for advanced practice critical care nursing in Europe: A scoping review

OBJECTIVES

Management of critically ill patients is changing due a rise in population age, comorbidity and complexity. To accommodate these changes, the demand is increasing for advanced practice nurses. More knowledge is needed regarding the role of advanced practice critical care nurses in European countries. The aim of the study was to review the literature describing skills and competencies required for advanced practice critical care nursing in Europe and to investigate related policy.

REVIEW METHOD

We performed a scoping review including papers published in 1992-2019 targeting policy and the intersection of advanced practice nursing (level of practice), critical care nursing (specialty area) and Europe (geographical origin).

DESIGN AND DATA SOURCES

Main sources of evidence were PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, SweMed+, Scopus, ERIC and Social Sciences Citation Index. We also searched grey literature, webpages, reference lists and performed hand-search.

RESULTS

The search identified 11,478 papers/references of which 42 were included. Four levels of practice were identified with unclear boundaries: professional nurse, specialized nurse, advanced practice nurse and advanced critical care practitioner (nurse or other). Most skills and competencies described in the literature were generic to advanced practice and only few were area specific to critical care. Advanced practice critical care nurses were often unable to fulfil their role because education, supportive policy and legislation were lacking.

CONCLUSIONS

This scoping review informs the policy makers and the INACTIC study of existing advanced practice in critical care nursing in Europe. The advanced role in critical care nursing is characterized by inconsistency regarding policy, education, titles, roles, scope of practice, skills and competencies. Levels of practice and areas of specialization need to be clarified. Most skills and competencies identified were generic for advanced practice nursing and many were generic for any profession. Task-shifting from physician to nurse needs to be more clearly defined and patient outcomes described. Given the scarcity of papers in our target area, we believe it might be too early to conduct a systematic review at this time.

Advanced Practice Provider-inclusive Staffing Models and Patient Outcomes in Pediatric Critical Care

BACKGROUND

Pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) are increasingly staffed with advanced practice providers (APPs), supplementing traditional physician staffing models.

OBJECTIVES

We evaluate the effect of APP-inclusive staffing models on clinical outcomes and resource utilization in US PICUs.

RESEARCH DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study of children admitted to PICUs in 9 states in 2016 using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's State Inpatient Databases. PICU staffing models were assessed using a contemporaneous staffing survey. We used multivariate regression to examine associations between staffing models with and without APPs and outcomes.

MEASURES

The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included odds of hospital acquired conditions and ICU and hospital lengths of stay.

RESULTS

The sample included 38,788 children in 40 PICUs. Patients admitted to PICUs with APP-inclusive staffing were younger (6.1±5.9 vs. 7.1±6.2 y) and more likely to have complex chronic conditions (64% vs. 43%) and organ failure on admission (25% vs. 22%), compared with patients in PICUs with physician-only staffing. There was no difference in mortality between PICU types [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.23, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.83-1.81, P=0.30]. Patients in PICUs with APP-inclusive staffing had lower odds of central line-associated blood stream infections (AOR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.59-0.98, P=0.03) and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (AOR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.61-0.86, P<0.001). There were no differences in lengths of stay.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite being younger and sicker, children admitted to PICUs with APP-inclusive staffing had no increased odds of mortality and lower odds of some hospital acquired conditions compared with those in PICUs with physician-only staffing. Further research can inform APP integration strategies which optimize outcomes.

Physician Assistants Employed by the Federal Government

OBJECTIVE

Physician assistants (PAs) are health professionals who have received advance medical training and are licensed to diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and serve as principal health care provider. Although the U.S. federal government is the largest single employer of PAs, at the same time little is known about them across the wide array of diverse settings and agencies. The objective of this project was to determine the census of PAs in federal employment, their location, and personal characteristics. This included approximating the number of uniformed PAs. Taking stock of a unique labor force sets the stage for more granular analyses of how and where PAs are utilized and are deployed.

METHODS

No one central database identifies all federally employed PAs. To undertake this project, three sources were examined. Data were derived from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Uniformed PA numbers were the result of networking with senior chiefs in the military services and the U.S. Public Health Service. The data were collolated and summarized for comparison and discussion.

RESULTS

As of 2018, approximately 5,200 PAs were dispersed in most branches and agencies of the government that provide health care services, including the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services, Justice, and Homeland Security. Federally employed PAs are civil servants or hold a commission in the uniformed services (ie, Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Public Health Service). Most PAs are in clinical roles, although a few hundred are in management positions. Approximately 81% of civilian PAs have had less than 15 years of federal employment.

CONCLUSION

The diverse utilization and deployment of PAs validate the importance of the role they serve as medical professionals in the federal government. From 2008 to 2019, PA employment in the federal government grew by approximately 50% supporting the forecast that substantial national PA growth is on track.

C19TM: A nurse practitioner and physician assistant-led telemonitoring initiative ensures timely transfer of critically ill coronavirus disease 2019 patients

ABSTRACT

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has required swift implementation of innovative practices in health care across the globe. We describe a nurse practitioner (NP) and physician assistant (PA)-led initiative to implement telemonitoring (TM) of noncritical patients with COVID-19 by critical care NPs and PAs (C19TM) for early detection of decompensation and early transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU). Every hospitalized patient with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 received an initial telemedicine consult with a critical care NP or PA. Patients were subsequently monitored via electronic health record once every 12-hour shift for the following indicators: oxygen modality and flow, increase in oxygen requirements, sustained tachypnea, and hemodynamic instability. If signs of decompensation were noted, the NP/PA would remotely reassess the patient, provide recommendations to the hospital internal medicine team, and transfer the patient to the ICU. The primary goal was to avoid cardiopulmonary deterioration requiring aerosol-generating procedures outside of the ICU. Over 65 days, 113 patients (86 suspected and 27 confirmed) were enrolled in C19TM. As a result, there were 13 transfers to the ICU, none of which required an aerosol-generating procedure outside of the ICU.

Surgical Faculty Perception of Service-Based Advanced Practice Provider Impact: A Southwestern Surgical Congress Multicenter Survey

BACKGROUND

A previous single-center survey of trauma and general surgery faculty demonstrated perceived positive impact of trauma and surgical subspecialty service-based advanced practice providers (SB APPs). The aim of this multicenter survey was to further validate these findings.

METHODS

Faculty surgeons on teams that employ SB APPs at 8 academic centers completed an electronic survey querying perception about advanced practice provider (APP) competency and impact.

RESULTS

Respondents agreed that SB APPs decrease workload (88%), length of stay (72%), contribute to continuity (92%), facilitate care coordination (87%), enhance patient satisfaction (88%), and contribute to best practice/safe patient care (83%). Fewer agreed that APPs contribute to resident education (50%) and quality improvement (QI)/research (36%). Although 93% acknowledged variability in the APP level of function, 91% reported trusting their clinical judgment.

CONCLUSION

This study supports the perception that SB APPs have a positive impact on patient care and quality indicators. Areas for potential improvement include APP contribution to resident education and research/QI initiatives.

Critical Care of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients

Life-threatening complications are frequent after hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT), and optimum critical care is essential to ensuring good outcomes. The immunologic consequences of HSCT result in a markedly different host response to critical illness. Infection is the most common cause of critical illness but noninfectious complications are frequent. Respiratory failure or sepsis are the typical presentations but the sequelae of HSCT can affect nearly any organ system. Pattern recognition can facilitate anticipation and early intervention in post-HSCT critical illness. HSCT critical care is a multidisciplinary endeavor. Continued investigation and focus on process improvement will continue to improve outcomes.

Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants in Acute and Critical Care: A Concise Review of the Literature and Data 2008-2018

OBJECTIVES

To provide a concise review of the literature and data pertaining to the use of nurse practitioners and physician assistants, collectively called advanced practice providers, in ICU and acute care settings.

DATA SOURCES

Detailed search strategy using the databases PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and the Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature for the time period from January 2008 to December 2018.

STUDY SELECTION

Studies addressing nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or advanced practice provider care in the ICU or acute care setting.

DATA EXTRACTION

Relevant studies were reviewed, and the following aspects of each study were identified, abstracted, and analyzed: study population, study design, study aims, methods, results, and relevant implications for critical care practice.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Five systematic reviews, four literature reviews, and 44 individual studies were identified, reviewed, and critiqued. Of the research studies, the majority were retrospective with others being observational, quasi-experimental, or quality improvement, along with two randomized control trials. Overall, the studies assessed a variety of effects of advanced practice provider care, including on length of stay, mortality, and quality-related metrics, with a majority demonstrating similar or improved patient care outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Over the past 10 years, the number of studies assessing the impact of advanced practice providers in acute and critical care settings continue to increase. Collectively, these studies identify the value of advanced practice providers in patient care management, continuity of care, improved quality and safety metrics, patient and staff satisfaction, and on new areas of focus including enhanced educational experience of residents and fellows.

Procedures Performed by Advanced Practice Providers Compared With Medical Residents in the ICU: A Prospective Observational Study

To assess the frequency and safety of procedures performed by advanced practice providers and medical residents in a mixed-bed ICU.

Satisfaction with Care and Satisfaction with Decision Making are Similar Regardless of Staffing Model in a Neurocritical Care Unit

Introduction

Patient-centered care, particularly shared medical decision making, is difficult to measure in critically ill patients where decisions are often made by a designated surrogate, often receiving information from multiple providers with varying degrees of training. The purpose of this study was to compare short-term satisfaction with care and decision making in patients or surrogates between two neurocritical care units [one staffed by a neurocritical care attending and advanced practice providers (APPs) and one staffed by a neurocritical care attending and resident/fellow trainees] using the Family Satisfaction in the ICU (FS-ICU) survey.

Methods

Over a 6-month period, the FS-ICU was administered on a tablet device to patients or surrogates at least 24 h after admission and stored on REDCap database.

Results

One hundred and thirty-four patients or surrogates completed the FS-ICU. The response rates were 59.97% and 46.58% in the APP and trainee units, respectively. There were no differences in patient age, sex, ventilator days or ICU length of stay. Overall, there were no differences in satisfaction with care or perceived shared medical making between the units. Respondents who identified their relationship with the patient as “other” (not a spouse, parent, nor a sibling) were less satisfied with care. Additionally, surrogates who identified as parents of the patient were more satisfied with degree of shared medical decision making.

Conclusion

This study showed that: (1) collecting FS-ICU in a neurocritical care unit is feasible, (2) overall there is no difference in short-term satisfaction with care or shared decision making between a NICU staffed with trainees compared to one staffed with APPs, and (3) parents of patients have a higher short-term satisfaction with degree of shared medical decision making.