Hot off the press: SGEM#308: Taking care of patients every day with physician assistants and nurse practitioners

The use of advanced practice providers (APPs) in U.S. emergency departments (EDs) has expanded in recent years, with about double the ratio of patients seen by APPs in 2016 than in 2008.1-3 APP scope of practice has also expanded to include more high-acuity patients.4 Little data exist regarding ED-based APPs when it comes to productivity, safety, and flow. The studies that have been published either are single center or use national databases.5 This study is set in multiple hospitals in a large ED group and compares APP productivity, safety, and flow metrics to those of ED physicians at the same sites.