Everything You Need to Know About Advanced Practice Providers

Who and what are APPs?

When you think of APPS, you probably think of the programs on your smartphone that help you order that late night pizza or feed your Candy Crush addiction. But when we talk about APPs at Mercy Health, we’re referring to advanced practice providers.

When you visit the doctor, you most likely talk to someone else in addition to your physician.  In most cases, these are nurse practitioners or physician assistants, two common types of APPs.

These advanced clinicians work alongside physicians to help meet patients’ needs. With advanced training that includes master’s and doctorate degrees, APPS are able to perform physicals, diagnose and treat illness, and prescribe medications. They are even able to order and review lab results.

You can think of your APP as an extension of your physician. They help you to be seen more quickly, and hit the road to recovery sooner.

APPS in primary and speciality care

Although APPS may be most visible in primary care, advanced practice providers also work with specialty care, such as surgery, oncology and neurology.

“At Mercy Health, our advanced practice providers are an integral part of our mission and clinical teams that allow us to fulfill our promise of making health care easier,” said Dr. Thomas Macabobby, Family Medicine Physician at St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital. “They are able to provide care in many different disciplines. They spend the time to really connect with those they are caring for and foster a relationship of trust which is incredibly important for every patient.”

In surgical settings, many advanced practice providers come in the form of certified registered nurse anesthetists, or CRNAs. These providers work right alongside anesthesiologists during surgery to ensure that the patient is safe and provide support when needed.

At Mercy Health, our walk-in clinics use APPs to help patients that need primary care services, but don’t have an appointment. While these patients would typically be forced to use urgent care or the emergency room, APPS help prevent forcing patients to endure the increased cost and wait times associated with those settings.

APPs are highly knowledgeable and an integral component of the health care experience. After all, it’s not just one person who completes your health care, it’s a team of professionals working together to make your experience as easy and as fulfilling as possible. If you’re ready to find your team, find a health care provider near you today.