Advanced Practice Providers: Raising Our Defenses Against the Rising Tide of Cirrhosis

The medical journey for patients with cirrhosis is complex and costly. In addition to the clinical complications related to hepatic dysfunction and portal hypertension, patients contend with extensive comorbidities, physical frailty, psychosocial factors, addictions, and the challenge of navigating through a web of often disconnected provider appointments and tests. Not surprisingly, patients with decompensated disease have high rates of rehospitalization with admission costs estimated at $25,000 and approximately one third of patients receiving guideline-concordant cirrhosis management..