Growing Demand for NPs and PAs in Oncology

STAMFORD, CT December 11, 2010 (Press-News.org) As a result of earlier diagnoses and better treatments, cancer death rates have steadily declined over the past 20 years. That's the good news. The bad news is that there are fewer oncologists who can take care of these patients.

A recent study by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) forecasts a large workforce shortage among oncology physicians. While the number of oncologists is expected to increase 20% by 2020, patient demand is expected to grow by 48%. To address this problem, the number and efficiency of oncology clinicians will have to increase. These are 2 areas in which nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) can help.

NPs AND PAs CAN EXPAND CAPACITY
The ASCO study results showed that physicians who work with NPs or PAs in their practice saw 10% more patients per week. This was true with NPs or PAs who performed advanced patient care activities, defined as assisting with new patient consults, ordering routine chemotherapy, or performing invasive procedures. With only 56% of clinical oncologists working with NPs and PAs, the potential to expand capacity simply by adding an NP or PA to the mix is great.
The roles of NPs and PAs may be underutilized in oncology practice. Researcher Maura Polansky, MS, PA-C, and colleagues write in the November issue of the Journal of Oncology Practice that ASCO may be understating the current roles of these clinicians. Polansky found that PAs were writing chemotherapy orders and prescriptions, as well as performing invasive procedures at a much higher rate than reported by ASCO. Additionally, they found that oncology PAs participated in clinical trials at a rate 4 times as high as reported by ASCO.
Polansky also pointed out that to effectively increase the use of NPs and PAs in oncology, more of these clinicians should be attracted to work in oncology. Considering the limited exposure to oncology in their formal training, oncology continuing education and training opportunities tailored to these clinicians is essential for NPs and PAs to perform advanced patient care activities, fully practice to their potential, and best improve the efficiency of oncology practices.

Sources:
Association of American Medical Colleges. Forecasting the supply of and demand for oncologists: a report to the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) from the AAMC Center for Workforce Studies. American Society of Clinical Oncology Web site. March 2007.

Polansky M, Ross AC, Coniglio D. Physician assistant perspective on the ASCO Workforce Study regarding the use of physician assistants and nurse practitioners. J Oncol Pract. 2010;6:31-33.

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