2005-2006 Survey Factoid
Use of PAs and NPs in hospital medicine groups
- Thirty percent of all hospital medicine groups (HMGs) employ nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs).
- Those groups, on average, have 11.2 physicians and 2.8 NPs/PAs. The 70% of groups without NPs/PAs average 7.9 physicians per group.
- The following types of groups are more likely to employ NPs/PAs: academic programs, groups in the eastern U.S., and groups more than 5 years old.
- The frequency with which NPs/PAs perform certain functions in HMGs is summarized in this table:
NP/PA Function – % of HMGs
- Round daily on hospitalized patients – 83%
- Write prescriptions for patients – 82%
- Perform H & Ps upon admission – 77%
- Act as initial responder (consults, admits) – 66%
- Participate in discharge planning – 66%
- Order specialty consultations – 53%
- Assist in teaching students – 33%
- Night or weekend call – 30%
- Post discharge follow-up calls – 20%
- Emergency response; Code Blue – 14%
- Perform invasive procedures – 11%
Source: SHM’s 2005-2006 “Biannual State of the Hospital Medicine Movement” survey.