The Value of the Advanced Practitioner in Hematology and Oncology: Establishing Benchmarks

Abstract

Advanced practitioners (APs) in hematology and oncology (heme/onc) practice and provide oversight across myriad settings, including outpatient, inpatient, specialty centers, infusion centers, and other care settings. Understanding the complexity of care within the specific role APs play in providing day-to-day services across the oncology service line and throughout the continuum of care is critical to developing productivity metrics that adequately reflect the value and scope of the heme/onc AP role. Productivity metrics specific to APs are lacking. Physician models, commonly applied to APs, do not adequately reflect the changing landscape of oncology services, and more importantly do not capture nonbillable services APs provide that are essential to run a practice safely, effectively, and efficiently. Here we describe results of the APSHO Productivity, Burnout, and Work-Life Balance Survey deployed to APSHO members in October 2022 with insight into the day-to-day workload of heme/onc APs, levels of burnout, and perceptions of work-life balance in their current role. Results of the survey confirm the significant amount of time APs spend performing tasks that are not billable but are crucial for access to care and treatment, patient safety, practice efficiency, and downstream revenue. Imperative to an agile and stable heme/onc workforce is an AP leadership structure. Advanced practitioner leaders are at the cornerstone of AP retention, yet metrics for measuring AP leader productivity are also lacking. Now, more than ever, it is essential to accurately describe and assign value to the broad scope of services APs and AP leaders bring to heme/onc practices.