Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 26, 2025

A Low-Cost Method of Measuring the In Situ Primary Productivity of Periphyton Communities of Lentic Waters
Published on: December 16, 2022
Assessing the productivity of PAs and NPs
Theodore Stefos1, Eileen A Moran, Stacy A Poe
1Theodore Stefos was an economist in the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and an assistant professor in Boston University's School of Public Health in Boston, Mass. In the VA's Office of Productivity, Efficiency, and Staffing in West Haven, Conn., Eileen A. Moran is director, and Stacy A. Poe is a program analyst. Roderick S. Hooker is a health policy analyst. The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
Abstract:
The improvement of healthcare efficiency and productivity is of international interest. Following an expansion phase of physician associate/assistant (PA) and NPs employment, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) assessed how and where they were being used. Using data from 134 VA medical centers, annual productivity was examined across 30 medical and surgical specialties spanning primary care, mental health, and surgery. PA productivity differences averaged 82 relative value units per full-time employee per year more than NPs, a difference of 4%. In general, PAs were found in higher productivity ranges than NP counterparts. PAs and NPs have statistically similar productivity levels in primary care and mental health. In specialty medicine and surgery, PAs average higher annual productivity than NPs. This analysis provides some utility for managers regarding workforce composition, given the relative productivity of two types of clinicians.
More Related Videos
06:05The Participant-Reported Implementation Update and Score PRIUS: A Novel Method for Capturing Implementation-Related Data Over Time
Published on: February 19, 2021
05:04Author Spotlight: Understanding Riverine Nitrogen Impacts and Primary Productivity for Effective Nutrient Management
Published on: July 14, 2023
Related Concept Videos
Production Efficiency
Methods of Documentation III: PIE
Sensitivity, Specificity, and Predicted Value
Sensitivity is the...
Primary Production
Methods of Documentation II: POMR
Assessment of apical radial pulse
The A-R pulse assessment involves simultaneous evaluation of the apical and radial pulses. When the apical and radial pulse rates vary, this assessment helps identify a pulse deficit.
Pre-Procedural Preparation