The Impact of Physician Extenders in an Academic Otolaryngology Residency Program: Initial Experiences

Abstract

Objectives:

A physician extender is a licensed health care provider who performs medical activities typically performed by a physician. The term encompasses highly trained health care professionals such as physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and midlevel practitioners. In our academic, tertiary care otolaryngology residency-training program, a physician extender was recently hired. The objective of this study was to evaluate his impact on resident quality of life and education as well as his productivity.

Methods:

All otolaryngology residents at an academic tertiary care medical center were issued a questionnaire that they answered anonymously. All inpatient consults seen by the physician extenders and residents over an 18-month period between June 2012 and December 2013 were prospectively captured and evaluated.

Results:

The results of the survey indicated that all residents unanimously agreed that a physician extender had a positive impact on resident education, patient care, and quality of life. There was no statistically significant difference in the types of consults seen by a physician extender and those seen by a resident. The physician extender enhanced departmental productivity on the inpatient consultation service.

Conclusions:

Physician extenders are valuable assets to academic otolaryngology residency programs. Their presence enhances patient access, care, and departmental productivity. They have a positive impact on resident quality of life and augment resident education.