Emergency Department Provider Utilization in Rural and Urban Settings - Roles of NPs, PAs, and Physicians

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Aurelia

Emergency departments function as critical access points in the U.S. healthcare system, increasingly relying on nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) amid rising volumes and physician shortages. Using 2017–2021 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey data from 83,282 ED visits, provider patterns were analyzed by patient demographics, visit acuity, and geography. Results quantified ED physician-only care (74.0%), NP/PA with a physician (14.4%), and NP/PA without a physician (11.6%). Findings show demographic, acuity, and rural–urban differences that inform workforce planning and ED resource allocation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages1

Reading Time3 min

AccessFree to download

Emergency department provider utilization

Data source and study design

Provider categories across ED visits

Differences by patient demographics and visit acuity

Rural versus urban provider roles

Implications for workforce planning

FAQs

What data and sample size were used to analyze ED provider utilization?

The study used 2017–2021 National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey data covering 83,282 emergency department visits.

How were visits categorized by provider type?

Visits were categorized as ED physician only (74.0%), NP/PA with a physician (14.4%), and NP/PA without a physician (11.6%).

How did rural and urban settings differ in NP/PA-only involvement?

Rural EDs showed higher NP/PA-only involvement (13.5%) than urban EDs (9.8%), with an odds ratio reported in the findings.

Why are the findings important for healthcare planning?

They highlight workforce distribution patterns by geography and acuity, supporting workforce planning and more efficient ED resource allocation.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Aurelia