These types of care providers began practicing medicine in the United States in the 1960s in response to physician shortages, and their role within the healthcare industry has grown continuously since then.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are over 130,000 NPs and nearly 100,000 PAs in the United States, and both professions are expected to grow by about 35 percent over the course of the next decade.

While the requirements to become either an NP or a PA are different, both receive extensive education and training.  NPs receive certification through the American Nurses Credentialing Center or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, and PAs receive certification through the National Commission on Certification for Physician Assistants.  Both are required to participate in continuing medical education, and/or complete a recertification exam periodically in accordance with national guidelines.  

While their medical expertise does not match that of a physician, NPs and PAs are highly valuable additions to a medical team.  In general, NPs are authorized to practice greater independence in clinical decision-making, though both provide many of the same services.  Each provider’s specific duties vary based on state law, the policies of the employer, and their education and level of experience.  These duties, which often overlap with those of a physician, may include:

    •    Taking a patient’s medical history
    •    Conducting physical examinations
    •    Diagnosing and treating illnesses
    •    Ordering and interpreting tests
    •    Offering recommendations for preventative care
    •    Assisting with surgical procedures
    •    Prescribing medication
    •    Delivering babies

Emergency department visits in the United States have increased by about 20 percent since the 1990s, and the increasing number of NPs and PAs specializing in emergency medicine has helped many hospitals to manage this significant growth while maintaining positive patient outcomes.  In the context of an emergency department, NPs and PAs are trusted to provide high-quality care to a variety of patients and to consult with a physician when necessary.  Adding these care providers to an emergency department staff allows for many patients to be seen more quickly, which often leads to improved patient satisfaction.  

Local patients visited the Licking Memorial Hospital (LMH) Emergency Department more than 55,000 times in 2015.  The triage process ensures that patients with life-threatening conditions receive immediate care from a physician, while those with less serious illnesses and injuries are seen as efficiently as possible in the order of the severity of their condition.  

For patients who visit the LMH Emergency Department with non-life-threatening conditions, an NP or PA may be able to provide care more quickly than a physician, without compromising the quality of that care.  Emergency medicine NPs and PAs are highly experienced and knowledgeable regarding a wide variety of procedures, and are trained to recognize their limitations and to quickly determine whether a patient requires the care of a physician.

The LMH Emergency Department currently benefits from the support of one Nurse Practitioner and two Physician Assistants:

Jennifer A. White, C.N.P., joined LMH in 2014.  She earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing degree and Master of Science in nursing degree at The Ohio State University in Columbus.  She is certified as a family nurse practitioner by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. 

Cameron S. Evans, PA-C, joined LMH in 2015.  He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in health sciences and Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree from Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana.  He is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.

Allan R. Thomas, PA-C, joined LMH in 2016.  He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in human health and a Master of Science degree in physician assistant studies at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, Nebraska.  He also graduated cum laude from Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa, with a Bachelor of Science degree in business management.  He is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.