Use of Advanced Practice Providers as Part of the Urologic Healthcare Team

Advanced practice providers (APPs) are advanced practice nurses (APN)/nurse practitioners (NP) or physician assistants. Over half of urologists currently employ APPs to extend and enhance their practice. Because APPs can fulfill a variety of roles from surgical assisting to running their own subspecialty clinic, they have emerged as a vital solution to alleviating the looming workforce shortage in urology practice. About 40 % of practicing urologists have not yet incorporated APPs into their practices. Some may still be unfamiliar with the concept of utilizing advanced practice providers, some have concerns about liability or scope of practice, and some are just getting started. Recently, the American Urological Association (AUA) published a consensus statement on advanced practice providers that provides urologists a comprehensive review regarding the education, training, Medicare reimbursement policies, applicable state laws, liability concerns, and examples of utilization of advanced practice providers within a urology practice. The consensus statement represented one of the most comprehensive compendiums of information specific to advanced practice providers in a urologic practice. This review will touch on the AUA Consensus Statement on Advanced Practice Providers, background information that informed that statement, as well as recent responses to the publication.