Academic Emergency Medicine | 2021
Hot off the press: Diagnostic testing differences between advanced practice providers and physicians
Abstract
The use of advanced practice providers (APPs) in emergency departments (EDs) has increased over the past two decades. As APPs have truncated training compared with emergency physicians, some have raised the concern that some APPs may compensate for training gaps through increased testing. We discuss an observational study by Pines et al published in Academic Emergency Medicine, January 2021, comparing test utilization and hospital admissions in patients with chest pain and abdominal pain by APPs and emergency physicians. We provide critical analysis and summarize social media discussion about the article.