CHEST COPD Immersion June 2025-4. The Role of NPs

4. The Role of NPs_PAs

Pdf Summary

The document details the role of Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) in managing obstructive pulmonary diseases such as asthma, COPD, and bronchiectasis. Sara Kraus, a Clinical Assistant Professor and Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, outlines the expanding responsibilities and benefits of APPs in both acute and ambulatory settings. APPs, including Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants, are highly trained to independently diagnose and manage patient care, often collaborating with physicians. They play a significant role in mitigating the challenges of accessing pulmonary care due to the projected shortfall of pulmonologists.<br /><br />Challenges such as limited access in rural areas and long wait times, which lead to increased hospitalizations and healthcare costs, underscore the need for APPs. Projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics highlight a significant growth in the number of Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants by 2033, emphasizing their crucial role in healthcare.<br /><br />APPs improve healthcare system efficiency, patient outcomes, and satisfaction by offering direct patient care, diagnosing and managing chronic conditions, conducting physical exams, prescribing medications, and performing procedures. Evidence shows that APP involvement leads to reduced exacerbations, emergency room visits, and overall healthcare costs, while improving the rates of smoking cessation and symptom control.<br /><br />Integration of APPs involves acute care settings where they manage acute respiratory symptoms and contribute to a team-based care approach. The document also stresses the importance of APPs in improving healthcare accessibility through telemedicine and ongoing training and collaboration with pulmonologists.<br /><br />A team-based model, demonstrated by the Iowa Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Ambulatory Clinic, effectively involves APPs in comprehensive pulmonary care. The document calls for workforce planning and policy development to further integrate APPs into pulmonary care to address workforce gaps, enhance collaboration, and improve patient outcomes and healthcare costs.

Keywords

Advanced Practice Providers

obstructive pulmonary diseases

asthma

COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

bronchiectasis

Nurse Practitioners

Physician Assistants

healthcare access

telemedicine

workforce planning