Embracing Digital Advanced Practice Providers to Mitigate Workforce Shortages

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How leveraging telehealth APP models can boost critical care and patient outcomes.

June 18, 2025

Critical care environments continue to confront workforce constraints, where demand overtakes supply. Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) like nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) are crucial to care delivery, yet many hospitals experience shortages in these roles.

According to a BMJ study, NPs and PAs in the U.S. handle a quarter of all healthcare visits. Does this sound familiar to your hospital?

Let’s explore how hospitals can rely on digital APP models to improve their quality of care, particularly in their intensive care units (ICU).
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The Rise of APPs and Current Shortfalls

Over time, APPs have come to fill roles once reserved predominantly for physicians. In these roles, they take on greater autonomy and contribute to improved care. Despite this progress, nearly half of 200 hospitals surveyed (48%) reported not being fully equipped to handle current patient volumes; they found gaps in specialists, nursing, mental health providers and APPs (45%).

These shortcomings are significant, especially in the ICU, where the intensity and complexity of care demand specialized skillsets. The projected decline of 86,000 physicians in the U.S. by 2036 heavily heightens the need for APPs to sustain patient care and hospital operations.

Consequences for ICU Quality and Capacity

Insufficient APP staffing in ICUs can bring long patient wait times, delayed interventions and burnout among clinical teams. Limited coverage can also affect protocols and routines, which can lead to an increase in mortality outcomes.

The Value of Digital APP Models

To fill positions, teams may have to repeatedly onboard temporary staff, which wastes funds and time. That’s not the case with virtual APP models, where these highly experienced individuals are available to provide top-of-license patient monitoring and intervention via a digital environment.

Digital APP models can be tailored to fit your needs and typically come with straightforward training and onboarding processes. At Intercept, for example, our tele-critical care solution can be fully integrated with your team in less than a month’s time.

By integrating a virtual APP model, hospitals automatically and almost immediately see a difference in their workflow thanks to:

  • Expanded Coverage and Flexibility

    Virtual APPs can be scheduled across shifts to help with peak times, unexpected surges, nights and weekends. On-site staff feel confident and supported with extra coverage for their patients.

  • Resource Allocation

    With another APP on hand, in-person APPs and specialists can focus on direct patient care secure in the knowledge that documentation, medication and family communication is being taken care of via digital platforms.

  • Enhanced Collaboration and Training

    Digital APPs have the expertise to mentor clinicians through cases and foster professional development, because any virtual resource to your team is not a replacement, but an enhancement.

Implementing Virtual APP Models

Let’s dive into what needs to be considered to ensure a virtual APP model can be integrated successfully within your healthcare organization.

  • Pre-Evaluation

    To understand what solution best fits your hospital or health system, conduct a thorough analysis to identify APP shortages across departments, especially the ICU; this assessment also serves to track peak periods and specific deficiencies.

  • Technology Infrastructure

    An ideal fit would include a tech stack that’s customizable across all platforms to effortlessly integrate your virtual team with your hospital’s legacy infrastructure. At Intercept, for example, we do this while also ensuring you’re equipped with HIPAA-compliant systems with secure audiovisual connectivity.

  • Protocol Development and Launching a Pilot Phase

    Clearly communicate digital APP responsibilities versus onsite roles. Then, launch a controlled testing window to collect quantitative and qualitative data for stability, staff satisfaction, response times and teamwork. By being prepared, workflows won’t clash, and providers will thank you for the organization as they adapt to a new system.

  • Scale Up and Continue Monitoring

    Upon seeing positive results with digital APP models, gradually expand coverage and monitor key performance indicators such as ICU length of stay, readmission rates, mortality rates and staff retention.

These steps embody a forward-thinking management strategy that ensures alignment with organizational goals and a hospital’s entrepreneurial responsibilities.

Unforeseen Challenges

While these results are promising, digital APP models may encounter unexpected, inevitable obstacles, none of which have to do with the APPs themselves or the digital technology underpinning the solution.

  • Resistance to Change

    Even with the utmost preparation and announcements, some providers may perceive virtual roles as trespassing and threatening their workflows and standards. Soften this with transparent communication and involvement of frontline workers within the implementation and design of the program.

  • Technical Limitations

    Unstable connections will necessarily hinder flawless execution of the digital APP model. Communicate with IT support for pilot testing under real-world scenarios and create a backup plan.

  • Financial Blockage

    Demonstrating ROI upfront can be challenging. To build a compelling case, start by presenting clear results from pilots, plan ahead for possible barriers and adjust for long-term success.

What’s Next

As hospitals struggle to find answers for staff shortages, digital APP models, like other telehealth services, are a smart solution to strengthen teams, improve consistency and maintain a gold standard level of care, even with limited resources.

With thoughtful planning and a partner like Intercept, telehealth services can be taken from small pilots to large-scale operations. Adopting this approach not only solves staffing challenges but also builds a model that’s ready for the future.

Are you ready to take the next step? Intercept Telehealth is ready to help your organization design, launch and enhance digital APP solutions that improve patient outcomes and long-term success. Get in touch with us today.