Things to Consider When Hiring an Advanced Practitioner
America's healthcare system is currently facing a shortage of qualified Medical Providers. Many organizations are addressing this shortage by employing Advanced Practitioners known as Physician Assistants (PA) or Nurse Practitioners (NP). These Advanced Practitioners are qualified to evaluate, diagnose and treat patients found throughout medicine and are providing cost effective healthcare solutions. So, if you are like many organizations and are considering hiring an NP or PA, there are a few things you need to consider prior to the hire.
Compensation
It is essential to know what the current compensation rates are for Advanced Practitioners (AP) at both the national and local level in order to create a competitive recruitment package. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the mean national salary for Nurse Practitioners is $101,260/yr and Physician Assistants is $98,180/year. It is important to remember that these salaries can vary considerably based on locality and practice specialty, making it is essential to thoroughly research your offer. This research will ensure that your offer is comparable to others in your area that may also be recruiting AP's. Another type of compensation offered by many organizations relates to RVU's and profit sharing. These alternative compensation sources may be especially relevant in smaller clinical practices where AP's have a highly level of autonomy and responsibility level within the practice.
Benefits
Most NP's and PA's receive benefits similar to those of Physicians like:
- Continuing Medical Education (CME) allotments
- Medical Licensure Fee Reimbursement
- Professional Society Fee Reimbursement
- Cellphone Reimbursement (especially if taking call for the practice is an expected duty)
Credentials
Checking any medical professionals credentialing is essential and AP's are no different. The majority of states require that NP's and PA's be certified in order to practice. State to state regulation requirements can vary considerably so it is important to verify what your individual state's regulations require for licensing. National Certifications can be verified at:
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners National Certification Board
- National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
Malpractice Insurance
Advanced Practitioners also require Medical Liability Insurance when practicing medicine in order to protect themselves and your organization from claims or litigation. Policies that cover AP's can generally be obtained from the same insurers that Physicians policies come from and are often less expensive.
Praise is an effective incentive on its own. Make sure to recognize employees who are helping with the initiative and have referred prospective candidates to the workplace. Consider recognizing an employee's recruiting efforts via announcements or emails at a weekly meeting or perhaps a company gathering. It always helps to reward an employee's continued initiative.
Malpractice Insurance
Advanced Practitioners also require Medical Liability Insurance when practicing medicine in order to protect themselves and your organization from claims or litigation. Policies that cover AP's can generally be obtained from the same insurers that Physicians policies come from and are often less expensive.
Physician Oversight
While many AP's have their own schedules and see patients autonomously, it is important to remember that Physician oversight is necessary. State regulations dictate what degree of Physician oversight is necessary for AP practice, so it is essential to be knowledgeable of these requirements.
To find out more information about AP's go to:
References:
2015 Nurse Practitioner Occupation Employment and Wages. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Accessed 1/5/2017.2015 Physician Assistant Occupation Employment and Wages. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Accessed 1/5/2017.
