What Is An Advanced Practice Provider (APP)?

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Published on

July 20, 2023

TL;DR

Healthcare systems facing physician shortages and rising patient demand increasingly rely on Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) to maintain access and quality of care. APPs—including nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and clinical nurse specialists—deliver advanced clinical services such as diagnosis, treatment, and care management across diverse settings. Their expanded scope, specialized training, and collaborative role with physicians improve efficiency and patient outcomes. The broader shift positions APPs as core contributors rather than support staff, highlighting how strategic integration of advanced practice roles strengthens care teams, reduces bottlenecks, and supports more sustainable healthcare delivery models.

An Advanced Practice Provider (APP) is an individual with a specialized medical education who can provide the same services as physicians, such as diagnosing illnesses, ordering, and interpreting tests, prescribing medications, and performing minor procedures. APPs are highly educated professionals that have been trained to perform these activities at the highest level of care.

APPs are usually either nurse practitioners or physician assistants. Nurse Practitioners (NPs) have advanced knowledge of nursing science and expertise in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of acute illness or chronic illness. Physician Assistants (PAs) can also diagnose and treat patients independently under the supervision of a physician. Both NPs and PAs collaborate with physicians to provide quality care for their patients.

Advanced practice providers play a vital role in healthcare teams by providing cost-effective, personalized care. Their expertise and experience can provide patients with quality, efficient services that are often not available from physicians alone.

Advanced practice providers are an essential part of the healthcare system, helping to meet the growing demand for quality medical care. With their knowledge and skill set, APPs offer quality health care services to those who need it most.

By working together with physicians, advanced practice providers are integral in providing comprehensive, high-quality patient care. Whether they are nurse practitioners or physician assistants, advanced practice providers help ensure that patients receive the best possible care.

Roles & Responsibilities of an Advanced Practice Provider

Roles of APPs

The role of an advanced practice provider include:

Providing diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses
Ordering and interpreting lab tests, x-rays, MRIs, and other diagnostic tests
Prescribing medications, treatments, and therapies
Performing minor procedures such as minor surgery and wound care
Assisting in surgery
Educating and counseling patients about their health
Providing preventive care, including screening tests and immunizations
Referring patients to specialists or other healthcare providers as needed

Responsibilities of APPs

Advanced practice providers are responsible for a variety of duties, including:

Taking medical histories and conducting physical examinations;
Diagnosing and treating conditions;
Prescribing medications, ordering and interpreting tests;
Counseling patients on health promotion, disease prevention, and lifestyle modification;
Developing and implementing patient plans of care;
Performing minor surgical and therapeutic procedures;
Assisting physicians in the operating room;
Making referrals to other healthcare providers, as necessary.

The Different Types of Advanced Practice Providers

There are two main types of advanced practice providers: nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

Nurse Practitioners (NPs) offer a broad range of services, from diagnosing and treating acute or chronic conditions to providing preventive care. Also, they are able to order tests, prescribe medications, and refer patients to other specialists if needed. With their advanced knowledge in nursing science and ample experience, NPs are able to provide reliable healthcare solutions for those who need it most.

Physician Assistants are highly qualified healthcare professionals with the capability to diagnose and treat patients autonomously but under a physician's supervision. Their range of services includes ordering lab tests, prescribing medicines, performing physical exams, and offering patient education and advice.

Education Requirements For APPs

APPs must meet certain educational requirements in order to practice. Nurse practitioners hold a Master's Degree or higher in nursing and have completed a nurse practitioner program. Physician assistants hold at least a Bachelor's Degree and have also completed an accredited physician assistant program. All APPs are required to be licensed by the state(s) in which they practice.

Why Advanced Practice Providers Are Important In The Healthcare Industry

Advanced practice providers play an important role in the healthcare industry by providing quality care to patients in an efficient, cost-effective manner. With their advanced knowledge and skill set, they are able to provide quality healthcare services while reducing the need for physicians.

APPs also offer more flexibility, as they can work in a variety of settings such as primary care offices, hospitals, nursing homes and urgent care clinics. Furthermore, APPs are able to provide continuity of care because they are able to follow up with patients after they have been discharged from the hospital.

It is clear that advanced practice providers provide essential healthcare services and fill an important need in the medical industry. By providing quality patient care and reducing the need for physicians, advanced practice providers are invaluable to the healthcare system.

The Benefits of Working With APPs For Healthcare Staffing

Advanced practice providers offer a number of benefits to healthcare organizations when they are used for staffing. Their advanced knowledge and skillset make them well-suited for a variety of medical roles.

Meet Demands of an Aging Population

The need for healthcare services is continually increasing due to an aging population and the growing prevalence of chronic diseases. APPs can help healthcare organizations meet these demands by providing quality care in a timely manner.

Overcome The Shortage of Primary Care Physicians

The shortage of primary care physicians is a nationwide problem, and advanced practice providers can help to address this issue. By utilizing APPs for staffing, healthcare organizations can ensure that patients have access to the care they need, even when there is a shortage of physicians.

Improve Patient Outcomes

APPs can provide continuity of care and follow-up with patients, which can lead to better outcomes. Their advanced knowledge and skill set also helps to ensure that patients receive quality care in a timely manner.

Reduce Healthcare Costs

The use of advanced practice providers can help to reduce healthcare costs. APPs are able to provide quality care in a cost-effective manner, enabling healthcare organizations to save money while providing high-quality patient care.

Ready To Get Started With A Leading Healthcare Staffing Provider?

The team at Frontera Search Partners has over 50 years of experience and has been providing high-quality staffing solutions for hospitals, clinics, and other medical centers. We specialize in temporary services that equip healthcare facilities with trusted physicians, advanced practitioners, and allied health providers. Our experienced search partners are dedicated to delivering exceptional results by working closely with each client and candidate throughout every step of the process - making sure everyone benefits from our best practices!

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FAQs about: Understanding Advanced Practice Roles

How do advanced clinical roles differ from physician-led care models?

These roles expand care delivery by allowing highly trained clinicians to diagnose, treat, and manage patients with a high degree of autonomy, depending on state regulations. They often collaborate with physicians but help reduce workload bottlenecks and improve access to care. At Frontera, we see organizations leverage these professionals to maintain care continuity, especially in primary care, behavioral health, and specialty settings where physician shortages persist.

What education and training pathways support these providers?

These clinicians typically complete graduate-level education, clinical residencies, and national board certification aligned with their discipline. Ongoing continuing education and credential maintenance are required to stay compliant with evolving standards.Understanding these pathways helps healthcare employers assess readiness, scope alignment, and long-term workforce planning when integrating these roles into care teams.

How does scope of practice vary across states?

Scope of practice is governed at the state level and can range from full clinical autonomy to more restricted, supervised models. These differences affect prescribing authority, patient panel ownership, and billing structures. Frontera tracks these regulatory variations closely, as they directly influence staffing strategies, operational design, and cross-state workforce mobility for healthcare organizations.

What operational value do these providers bring to healthcare systems?

They increase patient throughput, reduce wait times, and support preventive and chronic care management. Their involvement often leads to improved patient satisfaction and more efficient use of physician time. At Frontera, we observe that organizations adopting these roles strategically can achieve better cost control while maintaining high clinical quality across service lines.

How long does it take to integrate these roles into a care team?

Integration timelines vary but typically include credentialing, onboarding, and workflow alignment phases that may take several weeks to a few months. Success depends on clear role definition, EHR access, and collaborative protocols. Proactive planning during this phase minimizes disruption and accelerates productivity once the provider is fully embedded.

How do these roles impact long-term workforce planning?

They offer a scalable solution to address clinician shortages and rising care demand. By diversifying clinical teams, organizations gain flexibility in coverage models and service expansion. From Frontera’s standpoint, incorporating these providers into workforce strategies supports sustainable growth while adapting to reimbursement, regulatory, and patient access trends.