Chronic care management for the elderly: an opportunity for gerontological nurse practitioners.
OBJECTIVE
To discuss the role that gerontological nurse practitioners (GNPs) may play in providing chronic care management for the elderly.


METHODS
Review of recent literature on chronic care management, personal experience of the authors in caring for older adults under the chronic care management model, and a case study.


CONCLUSIONS
GNPs are the most appropriate practitioners to provide and coordinate chronic care management to the population that needs it most--the elderly.


CONCLUSIONS
Demographic shifts in the United States have increased the number of people with chronic illnesses; however, the nation's healthcare delivery system has not significantly evolved to meet the changing needs of its population. As a result, many people, especially older adults, suffer needlessly, and healthcare costs continue to rise. Chronic care management may alleviate older adults' chronic health problems, reduce expenditures for their health care, and promote their satisfaction and quality of life.
Hendrix
Cristina C
CC
Duke University School of Nursing, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Wojciechowski
Colleen W
CW
D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology; D017281:Cost of Illness; D019468:Disease Management; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016294:Models, Nursing; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D011788:Quality of Life; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology