title: Impact of APN Home Visits in Reducing Healthcare Costs and Improving Function in Homebound Heart Failure.
abstract: By providing quality primary care in the home setting, nurse practitioners can treat homebound patients effectively and decrease the number of hospitalizations, 30-day readmissions, and emergency department visits. Forty patients with a diagnosis of Class III or IV heart failure who were homebound were chosen for this project. The project manager, an Adult-Gerontological nurse practitioner, made home visits to these patients on a monthly and as-needed basis throughout the 3-month project. The rate of hospital admissions, emergency department visits, and 30-day readmissions was reduced by 64%, 85%, and 95%, respectively. Patients were assessed using the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (Green et al., 2000) at the initial visit and at 3 months. The scoring for physical functionality, symptom frequency, and quality of life were improved by 44%, 40%, and 54%, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Lisa M. Echeverry, DNP, AGNP-BC, is the Director, Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Program, Assistant Professor, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio. Karen V. Lamb, DNP, RN, GCNS-BC, is an Associate Professor, Rush University, 600 S. Paulina, Chicago, Illinois. Joanne Miller, PhD, APN/GNP-BC, is an Associate Professor, College of Nursing, College of Nursing, Rush University, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Echeverry
authors.forename: Karen V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Lamb
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003363:Cost Control; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000191:economics / Q000451:nursing*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006792:House Calls / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires