Page 18 - Part 1 Collaborating with Advanced Practice Providers - An Overview of State Rules

SVMIC Collaborating with Advanced Practice Providers

efficacious as that provided by residents. Improvements in
10 11
patient, 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 the 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. For example, in

addition to the preventable issues described above, other risk
issues such as documentation, communication and medication

errors rank high among both physician 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.

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