Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners in Head and Neck Surgery

This chapter explores the role of advanced practice clinicians (APCs) and patient care coordinators in the head and neck cancer setting. APCs, which include physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs), are licensed professional healthcare providers who diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret diagnostic tests, and prescribe pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical therapies. Although the training, education, and licensure differ between PAs and NPs, their roles are quite similar in head and neck surgery. They collaboratively participate in the medical and surgical management and coordination of head and neck cancer patients in a variety of settings including outpatient clinic, inpatient, and in the surgical suite. APCs can function autonomously in an outpatient clinic with the medical management of postoperative visits and new consults. In an inpatient setting, they perform daily inpatient rounds and manage patient care preoperatively and postoperatively. In head and neck surgery, registered nurses (RNs) usually function in the role of patient care coordinators. They serve as a liaison between the patient and all members of the multidisciplinary team. APCs and patient care coordinators work closely with medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, and other allied health professionals to provide high-quality care and achieve optimal patient outcomes in the head and neck cancer setting.