Position Statement on TEAM-BASED CARE IN NEUROSURGERY
Background
The practice of neurological surgery involves the need to respond emergently to a variety of critical and life-threatening neurological diseases. Early intervention and treatment of neurosurgical emergencies affects outcome. The coverage of hospital emergency departments and inpatient units, in addition to the provision of non-emergent neurosurgical needs of the population, requires a well-trained and responsive neurosurgical work force.
With the implementation of duty hour restrictions for neurosurgical residents who participate in the care of neurosurgical patients in many centers, the training and utilization of neurosurgical mid-level providers — such as physician assistants and nurse practitioners — on the neurosurgical team has increased in recent years. Furthermore, for those institutions in which no residents exist, neurosurgeons have also utilized mid-level providers in their practices, in order to efficiently and effectively meet the neurosurgical needs of their communities.
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