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APPs on the Rise in Oncology
A recent study published in the Journal of Oncology Practice shows that APPs are not only on the rise but also gaining more autonomy in oncology than other specialties.
The findings indicate that oncology NPs and PAs are increasingly involved in direct patient care, playing pivotal roles in counseling, prescribing, treatment management and follow-up visits. In fact, most APPs spend the majority of their time, as in approximately 80% of it, performing these duties.
The study also found that APPs in this specialty earned an annual salary between $113,000 and $115,000 on average, which is about $10,000 than for those in other specialties.
Ohio Lawmakers Want to Eliminate “Collaboration Agreements”
Ohio is paving the way for APPs to gain more independence in the medical community, as lawmakers introduced a new bill to eliminate “mandatory collaboration agreements” with doctors.
Jesse McClain, the President of the Ohio Association of Advanced Practice Nurses, is a strong advocate for the bill because he believes these agreements have become increasingly cumbersome, especially as more physician practices are being absorbed by large hospital networks.
“Most physicians won’t sign your standard care arrangement because the hospitals systems may not allow them unless you’re also employed by that hospital system,” he explains. That stipulation can severely limit practice opportunities for APPs.
Could this Year be the Worst Flu Epidemic Yet?
The CDC reports that 172 children died of the flu last year, a record high that spurs major concerns for the 2018-19 flu season. Worse yet, approximately 80% of influenza-related deaths from last year occurred in children who were not vaccinated.
It remains unclear why the 2017-18 flu season was so severe, as the strains weren’t new or unusual in any way. What was unusual was the prolonged high circulation across all 50 states.
With such mounting uncertainty, it’s not a stretch to think the 2018-19 flu season could be even worse. October is just around the corner, so make sure you, your loved ones and your patients get vaccinated.
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