Advanced Practice Providers: A New Era in Endocrinology

QUICK ENDOCRINE APP FACTS

• Approximately 685 PAs currently specialize in the practice of endocrinology [1]
• Diabetic medications rank #3 in the top agents prescribed regularly by NPs [2]
• A 2017 study revealed that diabetes management provided by PAs and NPs had equally as good outcomes as management by physicians [3]

APPs working in endocrinology:

• perform consultations and follow-up appointments in both inpatient and outpatient settings
• interpret thyroid imaging and take thyroid biopsies
• conduct bone density examinations
• manage insulin pumps
• perform endocrine research [4]

APPs interested in endocrinology should check out:

American Society of Endocrine Physician Assistants

AANP’s Endocrine Specialty Practice Group

References

1. Statistical profile of board certified PAs by specialty. NCCPA. Published 2023. https://www.nccpa.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Q2-Specialty-8_4_23.pdf
2. The state of the nurse practitioner profession. AANP. Published 2021. https://storage.aanp.org/www/documents/no-index/research/2020-NP-Sample-Survey-Report.pdf
3. Yang Y, Long Q, Jackson SL, et al. Nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and physicians are comparable in managing the first five years of diabetes. The American Journal of Medicine. 2018; 131: 276-283. doi:10.1016/j.amjmed.2017.08.026
4. Endocrine PAs in practice. American Society of Endocrine Physician Assistants. Accessed April 30, 2024. www.endocrine-pa.com/faqs