Growing a Cardiothoracic APP Program from the Ground Up in a Community Hospital Setting

L. M. Wueste
Memorial Hermann Memorial City, Houston, Texas

Purpose: Identify key components and potential obstacles in implementing an APP program in a growing Cardiothoracic Surgery Service line in a community hospital.

Methods: A review of the literature on key elements identified for successful integration of an Advanced Practice Provider program. Interviews with current and former Cardiothoracic Surgeons to identify what their perceived needs are from an APP and suggestions for integration onto a CVTS service line team. Discussion with the hospital’s billing and coding department and senior administration to identify opportunities to increase reimbursement and financial gain.

Results: Key elements over time for establishing and building a program were, identifying and implementing appropriate DRG’s for optimal reimbursement. Improved patient satisfaction as noted from the Press Ganey surveys. Enhanced team collaboration and physician satisfaction. Overall improvement in STS quality metrics.

Conclusion: Optimizing reimbursement, improving patient and physician satisfaction as well as maintaining consistent quality metric have been instrumental in building a successful APP program in a busy CVTS service line. Opportunity for growth for the service line is to implement APPs in other areas of our heart team, including structural heart and cardiac cath lab.

Identify the source of the funding for this research project: not applicable