Information on Advanced Practice Providers

Physician Assistants (PA) and Nurse Practitioners (NP), called Advanced Practice Providers, are part of the healthcare team, working alongside doctors and nurses at Campbell County Health.

What is a PA-C?
A Physician Assistant (PA-C) completes a master’s or doctoral degree from an accredited PA educational program, is nationally certified and licensed by the Board of Medicine and the state to practice medicine with the supervision of a licensed physician. Team-based care is at the core of every PA’s training. Like physicians and NPs, PAs must complete extensive continuing medical education throughout their career. PAs have been part of the healthcare team for nearly 50 years, and more than 100,000 physician assistants work in virtually every medical setting including hospitals, long term care and clinics.

What is an NP?
Nurse Practitioners (NP) complete a master’s or doctoral degree program, and have advanced clinical training beyond their initial professional registered nurse preparation. NPs emphasize the health and well-being of the whole person. With a focus on health promotion, disease prevention, and health education and counseling, NPs guide patients in making healthier lifestyle choices, which in turn can lower patients’ out-of-pocket costs. There are more than 230,000 NPs practicing in the United States today.

NPs can work autonomously and in collaboration with health care professionals. NPs use the designations APRN, FNP or DNP in their credentials.

PAs and NPs can:

• Order, perform and interpret diagnostic tests
• Diagnose and treat acute and chronic conditions
• Prescribe medications and other treatments
• Manage patients’ overall care
• Counsel and educate patients on disease prevention and positive health and lifestyle choices

Learn more about the providers at CCH at www.cchwyo.org/find-a-doctor/.