title: Competitive concerns bring PAs, NPs into triage area.
abstract: The ED at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle has proven new competition doesn't have to mean a loss of business or staff members. They moved physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs) into triage to compete with urgent care clinics. When you have a hard time attracting midlevel practitioners, examine the local market to see who is recruiting them. Create a small, separate area in triage where midlevel practitioners can treat patients with less serious conditions. Be flexible with the number of hours the PAs and NPs work. Be prepared to expand their hours as demand increases.
mesh_terms: D004465:Economic Competition; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010823:Physician Assistants; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D014218:Triage; D014861:Washington; D000078329:Workforce