Patterns of utilization of advanced practice providers in reproductive endocrinology: a 2023 national survey

Objective: To evaluate the current utilization of advanced practice providers (APPs) within the field of reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Web-based. Patients: A total of 201 APPs surveyed through the American Society of Reproductive Medicine APP Professio...

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Main Authors: Tamara Tobias, A.R.N.P., W.H.N.P.-B.C., Nicole Callahan, M.S.N., F.N.P.-C., Laura Augustine, D.N.P., F.N.P.-C., Barbara Tanaka, M.S.N., W.H.N.P.-B.C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-12-01
Series:F&S Reports
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666334124001107
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author Tamara Tobias, A.R.N.P., W.H.N.P.-B.C.
Nicole Callahan, M.S.N., F.N.P.-C.
Laura Augustine, D.N.P., F.N.P.-C.
Barbara Tanaka, M.S.N., W.H.N.P.-B.C.
author_facet Tamara Tobias, A.R.N.P., W.H.N.P.-B.C.
Nicole Callahan, M.S.N., F.N.P.-C.
Laura Augustine, D.N.P., F.N.P.-C.
Barbara Tanaka, M.S.N., W.H.N.P.-B.C.
author_sort Tamara Tobias, A.R.N.P., W.H.N.P.-B.C.
collection DOAJ
description Objective: To evaluate the current utilization of advanced practice providers (APPs) within the field of reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Web-based. Patients: A total of 201 APPs surveyed through the American Society of Reproductive Medicine APP Professional Group. Exposure: Anonymized online survey. Main Outcome Measures: Demographics, scope of practice and responsibilities, and training and onboarding. Results: Respondents were primarily Family Nurse Practitioners (26.4%), Women’s Health Nurse Practitioners (33.3%), or Physician Associates (29.8%). Two-thirds (67.4%) reported that their scope of practice is limited by their employer or practice, 43.5% by state restrictions, and 25.2% by insurance. Survey respondents reported that 44.4% of their time at work is dedicated to performing procedures and scans and 30.6% to conducting consults and follow-ups. The most commonly reported duties were physical examinations (88.6%), intrauterine inseminations (86.6%), saline sonohysterograms (79.6%), endometrial biopsies (76.6%), ultrasounds (74.6%), and problem visits such as for pain, cysts, and bleeding (73.1%). Most survey respondents (61.7%) reported having autonomy in deciding protocols and treatment options for patients in their practice. Respondents described their onboarding training as including observation/on-the-job training (94.0%), independent reading of texts and journals (66.7%), American Society of Reproductive Medicine online courses (45.3%), formal orientation (34.8%), and practice-organized training programs (29.4%). Conclusions: Advanced practice providers are highly trained members of the care team, but continue to be underused within the field of reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Improvements in educational resources and/or use of a formalized program to train APPs to their full scope of practice may help increase clinic efficiency and improve patient access to care.
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spelling doaj-art-8f2a650654c24d738c20a1f2b2da92e72025-08-20T02:39:18ZengElsevierF&S Reports2666-33412024-12-015436336810.1016/j.xfre.2024.09.002Patterns of utilization of advanced practice providers in reproductive endocrinology: a 2023 national surveyTamara Tobias, A.R.N.P., W.H.N.P.-B.C.0Nicole Callahan, M.S.N., F.N.P.-C.1Laura Augustine, D.N.P., F.N.P.-C.2Barbara Tanaka, M.S.N., W.H.N.P.-B.C.3Seattle Reproductive Medicine, Bellevue, WashingtonDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MinnesotaFerring Pharmaceuticals Inc., Parsippany, New JerseyFerring Pharmaceuticals Inc., Parsippany, New Jersey; Correspondence: Barbara Tanaka, M.S.N., W.H.N.P.-B.C., Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc., 100 Interpace Parkway, Parsippany, NJ 07054.Objective: To evaluate the current utilization of advanced practice providers (APPs) within the field of reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Design: Cross-sectional. Setting: Web-based. Patients: A total of 201 APPs surveyed through the American Society of Reproductive Medicine APP Professional Group. Exposure: Anonymized online survey. Main Outcome Measures: Demographics, scope of practice and responsibilities, and training and onboarding. Results: Respondents were primarily Family Nurse Practitioners (26.4%), Women’s Health Nurse Practitioners (33.3%), or Physician Associates (29.8%). Two-thirds (67.4%) reported that their scope of practice is limited by their employer or practice, 43.5% by state restrictions, and 25.2% by insurance. Survey respondents reported that 44.4% of their time at work is dedicated to performing procedures and scans and 30.6% to conducting consults and follow-ups. The most commonly reported duties were physical examinations (88.6%), intrauterine inseminations (86.6%), saline sonohysterograms (79.6%), endometrial biopsies (76.6%), ultrasounds (74.6%), and problem visits such as for pain, cysts, and bleeding (73.1%). Most survey respondents (61.7%) reported having autonomy in deciding protocols and treatment options for patients in their practice. Respondents described their onboarding training as including observation/on-the-job training (94.0%), independent reading of texts and journals (66.7%), American Society of Reproductive Medicine online courses (45.3%), formal orientation (34.8%), and practice-organized training programs (29.4%). Conclusions: Advanced practice providers are highly trained members of the care team, but continue to be underused within the field of reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Improvements in educational resources and/or use of a formalized program to train APPs to their full scope of practice may help increase clinic efficiency and improve patient access to care.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666334124001107Scope of practicetrainingadvanced practice providerinfertilityIVF
spellingShingle Tamara Tobias, A.R.N.P., W.H.N.P.-B.C.
Nicole Callahan, M.S.N., F.N.P.-C.
Laura Augustine, D.N.P., F.N.P.-C.
Barbara Tanaka, M.S.N., W.H.N.P.-B.C.
Patterns of utilization of advanced practice providers in reproductive endocrinology: a 2023 national survey
F&S Reports
Scope of practice
training
advanced practice provider
infertility
IVF
title Patterns of utilization of advanced practice providers in reproductive endocrinology: a 2023 national survey
title_full Patterns of utilization of advanced practice providers in reproductive endocrinology: a 2023 national survey
title_fullStr Patterns of utilization of advanced practice providers in reproductive endocrinology: a 2023 national survey
title_full_unstemmed Patterns of utilization of advanced practice providers in reproductive endocrinology: a 2023 national survey
title_short Patterns of utilization of advanced practice providers in reproductive endocrinology: a 2023 national survey
title_sort patterns of utilization of advanced practice providers in reproductive endocrinology a 2023 national survey
topic Scope of practice
training
advanced practice provider
infertility
IVF
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666334124001107
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