Nurses Lead Way to Innovative Care Delivery

A study conducted by Health Workforce Solutions LLC (HWS) and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has led to 24 innovative care delivery models that are specifically nurse-driven.  The HWS white paper reports that the models are intended to serve as a starting point in the development and dissemination of innovative care delivery models.  Researchers hope that other organizations will adapt these models and find ways to use them within their own medical facilities.  With the models came expanded roles for nurses including elevating the role of an RN from traditional care delivery to serving as a patient care “integrator” thereby increasing the nurses’ autonomy to manage and coordinate the patient’s care.  These nurses also served as mentors for new nurses and allied health care workers.  More than half of the new models also include a nurse-led interdisciplinary team approach in which other health care providers such as physical therapists, social workers and/or pharmacists work together to provide patient care.  To learn more about the study and the 24 models visit http://www.innovativecaremodels.com/.