Redefining Nurse Practioners & Physician Assistants Roles In Health Care

Friday, February 11th, 2011

How many are there, where are they and what do they do?

These were the leading questions in a webinar I attended today given by The Falk Group. I was hooked right away as I thought to myself, “Well, I’m not quite sure”. The answers were somewhat surprising and led me to think it’s about time we give nurse practitioners and physician assistants the “marketing respect” they deserve.

In 1991 there were 31,000 nurse practitioners and physician assistants in the health care provider industry. Ten years later that number grew to 122,000. This year the number is just south of 250,000. Together nurse practitioners and physician assistants will write over 600 million prescriptions this year. Respect.

Truth be told, there is not that big of a difference between what a nurse practitioners and physician assistants do in comparison to a physician. The main difference is surgery, which is performed solely by physicians. In many cases nurse practitioners and physician assistants are beginning to be utilized as primary care providers. They practice, and with few exceptions, can prescribe in all 50 states. Nurse practitioners and physician assistants now represent the fastest growing health care profession. In a 2010 Clinician 1 survey, 67% of nurse practitioners and physician assistants stated that marketers tend not to call on them or ignore them all together.

With 62% of nurse practitioners and physician assistants now writing more than 75 prescriptions a week, it seems logical that marketers start looking toward this group of providers (warning – do not call them doctors) in the same light they would physicians. As their responsibilities continue to grow, they will play a key role in our health care.

Healthcare Data Solutions maintains one of the most accurate and data rich nurse practitioners and physician assistants files in the industry. Our NursePractitionerPRO and PhysicianAssistantPRO files contain full postal, phone and e-mail contact information, along with practice and specialty details. Contact us today to let us help you tap into this valuable asset of health care providers.

Nurse practitioners and physician assistants, you have this marketer’s attention and respect.

The Power of the Discount

Thursday, February 11th, 2010

Just got an update about our February promotion… “New Customers Save 30%” has been a big hit in its first few days!

In speaking with several peers in the direct marketing industry who have tried similar promotions I had been told to expect a small lift in response…but a much bigger lift in conversions.  That appears to be the case.  What makes this even more exciting is we are hearing from segments of the healthcare market where we had been underpenetrated but are committed to pursuing in 2010.

Bottom line is: email promotion work for our clients…and they work for us, too!  Most inquiries are for  “physician mailing lists”, “dentist mailing lists“and “NP PA mailing lists”; however, once we follow-up there is genuine interest in “email solutions”, too.

Already lining up our March/April promotion – stay tuned!