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Advanced Practice Provider (APP) week is set aside to celebrate and highlight the countless positive contributions APPs make as they improve the health of patients.
This week, which is celebrated Nov. 7-11, is about increasing the awareness of the APP role, honoring APPs who are making a critical difference in the lives of their patients and removing barriers that impede patients' access to care.
The worldwide COVID-19 pandemic has elevated awareness of how APPs are essential to our healthcare system.
Choosing the right health care provider is an important first step in managing your health, but for many, finding a primary care provider or specialist to meet their needs can be a challenge.
Today, America's APPs provide solutions to improving your health.
In fact, APPs are the health care provider trusted by millions of Americans, and 80% of adults have been treated or know someone who has been treated by an APP.
APPs are a critical component of the health care workforce.
The term "APP" encompasses a variety of health care professionals, including certified registered nurse practitioners, physician assistants, clinical nurse specialists, certified registered nurse anesthetists and certified nurse midwives.
APPs including nurse practitioners and physician assistants hold prescriptive privileges, including controlled substances in all 50 states and prescribe medications.
They are graduates of master, post-master or doctoral programs with advanced clinical preparation.
APPs have demonstrated the ability to provide high quality, compassionate and cost-effective care in a variety of settings including primary, acute and specialty health care services, with the level of patient satisfaction and health outcomes equivalent to their physician counterparts while emphasizing health promotion, disease prevention, health education and counseling, guiding patients to make smarter health and lifestyle choices.
These health care professionals work in clinics, hospitals, emergency rooms, urgent care centers, nursing homes and private practices.
APPs assess patients, order and interpret diagnostic tests, provide a multitude of procedures depending on their specialty, make diagnoses and provide treatment plans, including prescribing medications.
The role of APPs is expanding across a host of settings and specialties to improve access, promote continuity of care and enhance care delivery.
APPs cover inpatient and outpatient services and provide the highest-quality care to our patients.
They make significant contributions to clinical care, education, research, quality,safety improvement and patient satisfaction on a daily basis.
Promoting APP professional fulfillment is critical for APP retention and for health care organizations to be able to maintain a vibrant APP workforce.
The APPs at UPMC Altoona have created an Advanced Practice Provider Advisory Council (APPAC) this year with the support of UPMC.
The council is comprised of APPs from multiple disciplines within the UPMC Altoona system, including both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Members of the council meet quarterly and work together to highlight and promote the role of APPs in providing the best care possible to our patients.
This initiative has not only provided a community of support for APPs,but it has also provided a resource for orientation of new APPs and quality measures for best clinical practice helping to ensure excellent care for our patients.
During APP week, please recognize and thank an APP you know who has made a meaningful difference in your life and ask your patients to do the same.
We are happy to be part of the health care team for Pennsylvania and across the nation.
Lori Demko is the lead
intensivist and an acute care nurse practitioner at Pittsburgh Critical Care Associates and UPMC Altoona.