Advanced Practice Nurses in Primary Care and Their Impact on Health Service Utilisation, Costs and Access

A study was recently published on the value of Nurse practitioners. The study is what is called a “scoping review.”

A scoping review is a type of research synthesis that aims to map the available literature on a specific topic, identify key concepts, gaps in research, and provide an overview of the evidence.

Eighteen studies were included (14 from the United States, two from the Netherlands and one from Australia and New Zealand each). Outcomes included health services utilisation, healthcare costs, access, and quality of care. Most studies reported advanced practice nursing patients had fewer emergency department (9 of 11 studies), fewer hospital (re-)admissions (9 of 10 studies) and primary care visits (3 of 3 studies). Seven (of eight) studies found advanced practice nursing care was associated with significantly lower healthcare costs. For access and quality of care, advanced practice nursing care was associated with lower consultation rates, similar mean number of patients seen, higher protocol adherence, more rural patient care and lower-to-similar quality delivery of chronic disease management.

Conclusion:

Majority of the studies reported that advanced practice nursing care was associated with lower emergency department visits, hospital readmissions and costs. Access to care outcomes varied under advanced practice nursing care.