Integrating
Non-Physician Providers Into Your Practice
An increasing number of practices are bringing non-physician providers on
board. Ideally, the addition of these physician assistants (PAs) and nurse
practitioners (NPs) should help practices reduce patient backlogs by
handling many noncritical cases. That, in turn, should improve patient
satisfaction and allow physicians to focus on patients with complex medical
issues.
Achieving these goals will be more likely if the non-physician providers are
successfully integrated into the practice. Successful integration depends on
their acceptance by patients, other practice staff and senior physicians.
Here are some strategies that can help ensure that physician assistants and
nurse practitioners will be treated as professional and respected members of
your practice.
Explain Their Roles to Patients
Before your new physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner actually starts
working in your practice, use e-mail or regular mail to send your patients a
brief biography of the new staff member. Your letter should include a brief
explanation of what a non-physician provider does, how he or she is
supervised, how your practice plans to use that individual and how the
addition of this individual means overall better patient service, especially
shorter wait times for patients. Your letter should also note that patients
may still request to see a physician, but that a PA or NP can responsibly
handle most cases. You can supplement that mailing with an ad in your local
newspaper announcing your new hire.
Prepare Your Staff
Work closely with your support staff to ensure that your new non-physician
provider has the resources, equipment and space to function successfully in
your practice. In addition, your front office staff should be trained to
offer patients the option of seeing a nurse practitioner or physician’s
assistant as opposed to waiting to see a physician. Many patients with minor
aches and pains will opt for this choice if assured that they will be
adequately cared for and it will mean a more timely appointment.
Treat Them as Team Members
The attitude of your practice’s physicians--especially the more senior
ones--toward the non-physician providers can very often determine the
success or failure of your efforts to integrate them into your practice.
Include them in practice management meetings and discussions. By asking for
their input and by showing respect for their professional judgment and
skill, they will be more likely to contribute to the overall professional
and financial success of your practice.
Health Care Commentaries is
provided by Somerset’s
Health Care Team
for our clients and other interested persons upon request. Since
technical information is presented in generalized fashion, no final
conclusion on these topics should be made without further review. For
additional information on the issues discussed, please contact a member
of our Health Care Team. This
document is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for
the purpose of avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed on the
taxpayer.
Somerset CPAs,
P.C.
3925 River Crossing Parkway, Third Floor
Indianapolis, Indiana 46240
317.472.2200 • 800.469.7206 • FAX 317.208.1200
www.SomersetHealthCareTeam.com
info@somersetcpas.com
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