title: Primary health care in the CMHC: a role for the nurse practitioner.
abstract: Although persons with chronic mental illness have a high incidence of physical health problems, they are often ill equipped to seek care within complex health care systems and tend to depend on community mental health centers as their only source of regular health care. The authors describe a role for the nurse practitioner in assessing the medical needs of chronic mentally ill outpatients at a community mental health center and in devising strategies to meet those needs. The nurse practitioner's activities include direct physical health screening and treatment, referral for specialized medical services, consultation, research, and staff and patient education.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: McConnell
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Inderbitzin
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Pollard
mesh_terms: D003155:Community Mental Health Centers; D005845:Georgia; D006746:Hospital Bed Capacity, 500 and over; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000639:trends*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000639:trends*; D012803:Sick Role; D000078329:Workforce