Streamlining care in two neurosurgical practices in a rural trauma center

Abstract

ABSTRACT To maximize cost-effective care and evaluate the use of physician associates/assistants (PAs) and NPs in an academic inpatient setting, we investigated the effect of streamlining care by using a common PA position between two neurosurgery groups. Trauma registry data were obtained and analyzed to gain insight into hospital length of stay (LOS) and clinical outcomes before and after implementing this new position. The average hospital LOS was reduced for less severely injured patients, and the time to initiation of venous thromboembolism prophylaxis decreased for injured neurosurgical patients. These results indicate the successful facilitation of time-sensitive, value-based healthcare for this specific clinical population at our Level 2 trauma center.