Hospital-based community outreach to medically isolated elders. The nurse gerontologist is a key link in this health care delivery system in Wisconsin.
The development of a hospital-based community outreach nursing program has been beneficial for St. Mary's Hospital in several ways. The outreach program has served a community need in that many elderly persons who were previously medically isolated have now been located and linked to the health care delivery system. The outreach program has reinforced the hospital's presence and leadership role in the community through its work with the elderly population. The hospital is seen as being committed to bringing health care services to its elderly neighbors. Through the establishment and coordination of health care services to previously isolated and unconnected elderly persons, there has been a broadened revenue base for hospital operations. The outreach program also supports the mission, philosophy, and objectives of the Daughters of Charity. The efforts of this outreach program have shown that high-quality, accessible, and coordinated care for the elderly population may be obtained using a nurse gerontologist. Efforts to expand the market share of elderly persons by the hospital has continued through the development of other innovative health programs, resources, and services. Hospital administrators need to develop programs and services that effectively utilize limited health care dollars and resources to improve the quality of health care within the community.
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D000368:Aged; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D012934:Social Isolation; D014922:Wisconsin