US emergency care patterns among nurse practitioners and physician assistants compared with physicians: a cross-sectional analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Nurse practitioners and physician assistants (NPs/PAs) increasingly practice in emergency departments (EDs), yet limited research has compared their practice patterns with those of physicians.

Design, setting and participants

Using nationally representative data from the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS), we analysed ED visits among NPs/PAs and physicians between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2017. To compare NP/PA and physician utilisation, we estimated propensity score-weighted multivariable regressions adjusted for clinical/sociodemographic variables, including triage acuity score (1=sickest/5=healthiest). Because NPs/PAs may preferentially consult physicians for more complex patients, we performed sensitivity analyses restricting to ED

SUBMITTER: Mafi JN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9021799 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature