title: Integration of nurse practitioners into a family health network.
abstract: A randomized controlled study called Anticipatory and Preventative Team Care (APTCare) explored a new role for nurse practitioners (NPs) within a multidisciplinary team. The aim of the study was to evaluate whether integrating NPs and a pharmacist was an effective approach for the management of patients living with multiple chronic illnesses. Over an 18-month period, three part-time NPs and a pharmacist became part of a rural Family Health Network (FHN). They established relationships with study patients and collaborated to provide optimum care. Each NP had 40 patients, all of whom received care in the home. Study results showed that an initial home visit was invaluable for establishing a care plan, developing a relationship with the patient and assessing the home environment. Ongoing monitoring at home, however, was found to be an inefficient use of the NP role. By the end of the study, all clinicians agreed that the NP role had been successfully integrated into the multidisciplinary team.
authors: University of Ottawa, Ontario.
authors: Jennie
authors: J
authors: Humbert
authors: Frances
authors: F
authors: Legault
authors: Simone
authors: S
authors: Dahrouge
authors: Brenda
authors: B
authors: Halabisky
authors: Gail
authors: G
authors: Boyce
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Hogg
authors: Stephanie
authors: S
authors: Amos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000451:nursing*; D015897:Comorbidity; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D005192:Family Health; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009864:Ontario; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010595:Pharmacists; D019555:Physician-Nurse Relations; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*