title: A nursing historical perspective on the medical home: impact on health care policy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The idea of a "medical home" is rapidly gaining in popularity in health policy circles today. In the face of a shortage of primary care physicians, it has led to a national debate about who should lead the homes, who should deliver care, the kind of care that should be offered, and the location of that care. A historical examination of nurses' role in primary care can provide evidence to inform the current dialogue.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This article provides insight into nursing's role in primary health care during the early 20th century.
  
  
  METHODS
  Traditional historical methods were used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Three historical case studies provide evidence of how nursing and medicine worked together in the past and informs the discussion about using nurses to deliver primary health care today. Policy makers should not overlook the central role nurses have long played in providing access to care for numerous underserved populations. Makers should not overlook the central role nurses have long played in providing access to care for numerous underserved populations.
authors.affiliation: Acute & Specialty Care Department, School of Nursing, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA.
authors.forename: Arlene
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keeling
authors.forename: Sandra B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Lewenson
mesh_terms: D006291:Health Policy / Q000266:history*; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000266:history*; D057184:Practice Patterns, Nurses' / Q000266:history* / Q000458:organization & administration; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000266:history* / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States
keywords: American Red Cross Town and Country Nursing Service; Frontier Nursing Service; Health care policy; Henry Street Settlement; Interprofessional education; Medical homes; Nursing history; Primary health care; Provider neutral language