title: Implementation of an Integrated Neuroscience Unit.
abstract: Many challenges exist in today's health care delivery system, and much focus and research are invested into ways to improve care with cost-effective measures. Specialty-specific dedicated care units are one solution for inpatient hospital care because they improve outcomes and decrease mortality. The neuroscience population encompasses a wide variety of diagnoses of spinal to cranial issues with a wide spectrum of needs varying from one patient to the next. Neuroscience care must be patient-specific during the course of frequent acuity changes, and one way to achieve this is through a neuroscience-focused unit. Few resources are available on how to implement this type of unit. Advanced practice nurses are committed to providing high-quality, safe, and cost-effective care and are instrumental in the success of instituting a unit dedicated to the care of neuroscience patients.
authors.affiliation: Rory P. Breslin is Neurosurgery Nurse Practitioner, Rush Copley Medical Center, Neuroscience Institute, 2040 Ogden Avenue, Suite 300, Aurora, IL 60504 (rory_breslin@rush.edu). Lauren Franker is Neurosurgery Nurse Practitioner, Rush Copley Medical Center, Aurora, Illinois. Suzanne Sterchi is Assistant Vice President of Patient Care, Rush Copley Medical Center, Aurora, Illinois. Sepehr Sani was Neuroscience Medical Director, Rush Copley Medical Center, Aurora, Illinois when this project was done. Sani is now Assistant Professor, Neurosurgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois.
authors.forename: Rory P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Breslin
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Franker
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sterchi
authors.forename: Sepehr
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sani
mesh_terms: D064648:Critical Care Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D009488:Neurosciences / Q000458:organization & administration*; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration*