What Is an APC? How Advanced Practice Clinicians Support Your Care
Advanced practice clinicians (APCs) play an important role in helping patients access high-quality healthcare. From increasing appointment availability to providing patient education, APCs collaborate with physicians and other healthcare professionals to meet the needs of their communities.
Here in Sussex County, that means more options for getting the right care, closer to home and when they need it.
Here’s what you need to know about APCs, also sometimes referred to as APPs, and the benefits they bring to patient care.
What Are Advanced Practice Clinicians?
Advanced practice clinicians include healthcare professionals such as nurse practitioners (NPs), physician associates (PAs), certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), and certified nurse midwives (CNMs).
These clinicians have advanced education and rigorous clinical training that allow them to diagnose and treat medical conditions, create treatment plans, prescribe medications, and provide ongoing patient care.
APCs work in a variety of healthcare settings, including primary care, specialty practices, operating rooms, and hospitals. They may conduct routine exams, order diagnostic tests, manage chronic conditions, coordinate referrals, and provide follow-up care.
Expanding Access to Care in Sussex County
One of the biggest benefits APCs bring to healthcare is improved access to care, particularly in rural communities.
“Access is one of the biggest advantages,” said Karen Pickard, DNP, Vice President of Nursing and Health Education, Academic Partnerships & Clinical Advocacy at Beebe Healthcare. “Being able to hire APCs gives our communities better access to care by giving patients more options for receiving high-quality care.”
Patrick Duffy, PA-C, a dermatology physician assistant at Beebe Center for Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery and President of the Delaware Academy of Physician Associates, emphasized the important role APCs play in expanding access to care in Sussex County.
“Having APCs available expands access to care, especially for patients who may not be able to travel to Wilmington or Salisbury for appointments or who don’t have reliable transportation,” Duffy said.
APCs also help reduce patient wait times for appointments and expand the capacity of healthcare systems and physician practices, helping patients receive more timely care.
Patient Education and Preventive Care
Another important advantage of APCs is their focus on patient education and preventive care.
Duffy explained that APCs can spend additional time with patients, answering complicated questions, reviewing laboratory results, and helping patients better understand their health.
This emphasis on education can help patients become more informed about their health and take an active role in managing medical conditions and preventing future health concerns.
Addressing Common Misconceptions About APCs
As APCs take on a growing role in healthcare, patients may have questions about their training and the care they provide.
"One of the biggest misconceptions is that the delivery of care would be 'less than' compared to an MD because the schooling is different, and I completely disagree," Pickard said.
Pickard explained that many nurse practitioners have previous experience providing bedside care, giving them valuable clinical experience and perspective when caring for patients, in addition to their advanced education.
Many Beebe School of Nursing graduates have continued their education after graduation and become some of the most-trusted healthcare clinicians in Sussex County.
Additional Benefits of APCs
Along with expanding access to care and emphasizing patient education and preventive medicine, APCs offer several other benefits including:
- High-quality, evidence-based patient care alongside physician colleagues
- Enhanced continuity and coordination of care
- Management of chronic diseases
- Greater flexibility in meeting community healthcare needs
- More access typically reduces emergency department visits and lowers healthcare costs
- Strong collaboration with physicians and multidisciplinary healthcare teams, leading to better patient outcomes.
A Growing Role in Healthcare
The role of APCs has continued to expand as healthcare organizations work to meet growing patient needs and address physician shortages.
"Healthcare leaders have recognized the importance of embracing a team-based model of care that includes APCs in primary care,” Pickard said.
She noted that Beebe employs significantly more APCs than it did a decade ago, reflecting the growing importance of these professionals, especially as our population continues to grow.
"At the end of the day, whether it's an MD, DO, or APC, we all want to provide the highest quality care for our patients," Pickard said.
To learn more about Beebe Healthcare's clinicians and find the right care, visit beebehealthcare.org/doctors.