Patients who first met with a physician assistant or nurse practitioner were more likely to proceed to surgery and reported higher satisfaction.
Routing body contouring patients to an advanced practice provider (APP) for their initial consultation improves access to care, increases patient satisfaction, and raises the rate at which patients ultimately undergo surgery, according to a new study in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
The study suggests that embedding physician assistants and nurse practitioners into the front end of the surgical pathway helps patients understand their candidacy earlier and gives those who aren’t yet eligible a clearer road map to the operating room.
Determining Readiness for Surgery
The study found about half of patients were ready for surgery, but the other half needed to take additional steps before being eligible for a procedure. Failing to meet surgical criteria at the first appointment, however, did not disqualify patients from eventually having the procedure.
APPs guided patients who were not immediately eligible through a preparation plan that could include stopping nicotine use, stabilizing their weight, or controlling medical conditions such as diabetes.
“A lot of patients come in for surgical evaluations, and what we’re noticing is many of them weren’t candidates right off the bat,” says Julie West, MS, PA-C, a contributing author and physician assistant at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery in Columbus, Ohio, in a release. “They leave with one of two pathways. One is: ‘Here are your things to work on. Come back in three to six months.’ The other is: ‘Actually, you’re a really good candidate. Let’s get you set up with the surgeon.'”
Regardless of candidacy, patients received education about the procedures, which the authors say can serve as motivation. “We scheduled them for a three- to six-month follow-up back at the clinic to check their progress,” says West in a release. “So, it gives them a goal.”
Impact on Access and Satisfaction
Incorporating APPs into initial body contouring consultations improved patient satisfaction and increased the number of patients who ultimately had surgery, according to the study.
“Patients felt understood and listened to by providers, making them more likely to return and have the surgery,” says West in a release. “Patients are satisfied because they understand their next steps, whether they are ready for surgery or not.”
Samuel J. Lin, MD, MBA, editor-in-chief of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, says the model has reshaped how his own practice handles consultations.
“Having an advanced practice practitioner (APP) as part of the initial consultation process for our practice has been a wonderful game changer,” says Lin in a release. “The patients are able to receive clinical information earlier in the process without having to wait a longer period of time and then are able to enact changes, if needed and appropriate, to better their health and improve outcomes for surgery.”
The authors conclude that the APP-led consultation model can make the path to body contouring surgery clearer and more efficient by helping patients understand the requirements, identify health concerns, and develop a plan to reach their aesthetic goals.
