How to cite: Newman DK. “APP Integration Into Practice.” Grand Rounds in Urology. August 2026. Accessed Oct 2026. https://grandroundsinurology.com/app-integration-into-practice/
Summary
In this presentation from the UroCancer Interdisciplinary Forum (UCIF) 2026, Diane K. Newman, DNP, ANP-BC, FAAN, FAUNA, BCB-PMD, Urology and Pelvic Floor Nurse Specialist and Adjunct Professor of Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, Emerita, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, discusses the expanding role of Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) in addressing workforce shortages and improving access to urologic and uro-oncology care. She explains that the demand for urologic services continues to rise as the population ages, while the number of practicing urologists is expected to decline, making APP integration an essential component of future practice models.
Dr. Newman emphasizes that successful APP integration requires more than simply hiring additional providers. Organizations should define specific clinical needs, establish clear job descriptions, develop structured onboarding programs, and create measurable operational goals. She outlines a staged training model consisting of introduction, reinforcement, and mastery, allowing APPs to gradually develop competence and autonomy while ensuring consistent, high-quality patient care.
Dr. Newman reviews how APPs contribute throughout the continuum of uro-oncology care, including diagnosis, treatment coordination, systemic therapy follow-up, survivorship, patient education, telemedicine, and chronic disease management. She also highlights the growth of APP-directed specialty clinics. These models improve patient access while allowing physicians to focus on higher-complexity care and surgical procedures.
Dr. Newman discusses common implementation barriers, including variable state regulations, inconsistent reimbursement policies, limited standardized training, and high workforce turnover. She advocates for structured competency-based onboarding, professional development opportunities, multidisciplinary collaboration, and greater investment in APP education to ensure sustainable expansion of high-quality urologic care.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr. Diane K. Newman is an Adjunct Professor of Surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She is the former Co-Director of the Penn Center for Continence and Pelvic Health, Division of Urology, Penn Medicine, in Philadelphia. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and the Academy of Urologic Nurses and Associates. She is certified as an adult nurse practitioner by the American Nurses Credentialing Center and Board Certified in Biofeedback for Pelvic Muscle Dysfunction by the Biofeedback Certification Institute of America.
Dr. Newman has 35+ years of experience practicing as a urology advanced practice provider and continence nurse specialist. Her clinical expertise involves the evaluation, treatment, and management of urinary incontinence, bladder dysfunction, and related problems, including the use of catheters and other devices in the management of bladder and pelvic floor conditions. Throughout her career, she has evaluated and treated men and women with urologic disorders in multiple settings: acute care, long-term, and home care, with 23 years in an ambulatory practice at the Division of Urology at the University of Pennsylvania.
