Page 22 - APP Collaboration - Assessing the Risk (Part One)

SVMIC Advanced Practice Provider Collaboration: Assessing the Risk

as efficacious as that provided by residents. Improvements
10 11
in patient, family, and staff satisfaction are additional areas
that again demonstrate the effectiveness of these providers in

improving communication.
12

It probably will not come as a surprise that our data identifies
the following factors leading to medical error and claims of

professional malpractice:

• Operating outside of the APP’s scope of practice

• Failure of the supervising and/or collaborating physician to
adhere to state required rules

• Absence of written protocols

• Deviation from written protocols

• Failure and/or delay in seeking referral or physician

collaboration

From a medical malpractice standpoint, APPs face similar
risk management issues as those of physicians. As we have

already discussed, other risk issues such as documentation,
communication, and medication errors rank high among both

physicians and APPs.

10 Gerhengorn H, Johnson M, Factor P. The use of non-physician providers in adult intensive care
units. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2012; 185:600-605.
11 Bevis L, Berg-Copas G, Thomas B, et al. Outcomes of tube thoracostomies performed by
advanced practice providers vs trauma surgeons. Am J Crit Care. 2008; 17:357-363
12 Gillard J, Szoke A, Hoff W, et al. Utilization of PAs and NPs at a level I trauma center: effects on
outcomes. JAAPA. 2011; 24:34, 40-43.

Page 22