2023 Health Care Champions Advanced Practice Provider: Jeff Del Vecchio

Jeff Del Vecchio says he’s proud to have witnessed growth in advanced practice provider professions during his 26-year career as a physician assistant in orthopedics.

As a physician assistant at Mercy Springfield Communities, Del Vecchio has helped lead the charge.

“Today, our roles are vital in fulfilling and carrying out Mercy’s mission to provide compassionate and exceptional care to those we serve,” he says.

“The practice of medicine has changed greatly over the years, and a team-based approach to deliver patient care is essential.”

He says his role in orthopedics is essential to the overall health care landscape.

Del Vecchio diagnoses and treats myriad medical conditions, orders diagnostic tests, takes care of wounds, performs fracture management and assists in surgery, among other duties.

“This expertise allows me to provide high-quality care to patients, thereby alleviating the burden on primary care providers and specialists while also increasing access to care,” says Del Vecchio.

His work also includes serving as director of clinical informatics at Mercy.

The role helps “link the practice of medicine to the underlying technology that supports it,” he says, noting it’s a Mercy-wide position.

Additionally, Del Vecchio  works shifts in Mercy’s orthopedic walk-in clinic.

“I have the capability and experience to manage chronic orthopedic issues through various treatments and lifestyle modification,” he says.

Del Vecchio adds, “The Ozarks, like many regions across the U.S., face challenges in terms of cost and health care access. My role as a PA helps bridge the gap by providing timely, accessible and quality care. The need for (advanced practice providers) will continue to grow in our area.”

Outside of the official scope of his work, Del Vecchio is a trumpet player in the nonprofit Caduceus, the Doctors’ Band, which raises money for local nursing scholarships, and he has contributed his skills to Missouri State University, where he earned two degrees. At MSU, he serves as a guest lecturer, clinical preceptor, admissions committee member and program adviser for the university’s PA program. He also helped start the school’s physician assistant program in 2000.

“It is important to give back to your profession, through opportunities such as teaching, student precepting, work involvement and professional advancement advocacy,” Del Vecchio says. “Doing these things demonstrates a commitment to the development and sustainability of the profession. I feel it is important to share my experiences and expertise to students and colleagues.

“Involvement allows me to be an advocate for the PA profession at the local, state and national level.”