Advanced Practice Provider Strategy Improves Results

While organizations continue to experience significant growth in their advanced practice provider (APP) workforce, it’s important to implement intentional strategic planning and/or coordinated design in an effort to achieve significant results. Healthcare leaders should note that when growth exceeds plans, it can lead to the following costly challenges. 

• Inefficient care models
• Underutilization of APPs
• Redundant work between physicians and APPs
• Misalignment of physician and APP compensation plans, which can lead to unintentional competition for work relative value units (wRVUs)
• Significant increase in payroll expenditures
• Growing dissatisfaction among APPs who are not practicing at the top of their licenses, resulting in greater turnover

When leveraged correctly, APPs can generate a noticeable return on investment by helping to achieve key strategic objectives. By keeping the following goals in mind, organizations can develop comprehensive and intentional workforce strategies:

Optimizing clinical care. This often requires changes in how care is delivered, such as where and by which type of provider, clearly defined scopes of practice, and competency training.

Enhancing performance. Aligning physician and APP compensation with organizational goals can drive desired performance and result in improved patient access, satisfaction, and quality outcomes. 

Ensuring financial stability. By having the right mix of providers, organizations can better address patient access issues and deliver higher quality care at a lower cost, in turn improving financial performance. Aligning the goals of the provider team is the essence of team-based care and a crucial element in driving value.

Clarifying roles between physicians, APPs, and other team members can enhance workforce satisfaction by potentially reducing turnover and burnouttwo growing concerns for health care organizations.

See related article: Using Advanced Practice Providers to Optimize Efficiency and Improve Financial Performance