title: Multisite regional telephone care.
abstract: A multisite, regional telephone-care program staffed by advance practice and critical care nurses has improved patient care and reduced unnecessary clinic and emergency room visits. It allows patients to access the health care system and receive expert advice through the use of the telephone, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. Computerized patient medical records from eight hospitals and 31 clinics are available to a registered nurse so that informed decisions can be made. The RN records the patient's concern and intervention directly into the patient's medical record, which is transmitted to the primary care provider in real time.
authors.affiliation: Network Telephone Care Program, Bronx Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Bronx, NY 10468, USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Genovese
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Devitt
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gottlieb
mesh_terms: D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D006751:Hospital Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008389:Marketing of Health Services; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D009519:New York City; D009738:Nursing Service, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D013689:Telephone; D000078329:Workforce