UTILIZATION OF ACUTE CARE NURSE PRACTITIONERS TO COMBAT PHYSICIAN SHORTAGES IN THE MILITARY TRAUMA SYSTEM: WORKING TOWARDS IMPROVED OUTCOMES
Abstract
The nature of healthcare in the United States is changing. With an ever increasing focus on patient safety, improving overall outcomes and cost containment, new strategies are continually being developed to aid in efforts to provide safe, effective and efficient care. One barrier to this goal is the current national shortage of physician intensivists. As the population ages and increasing numbers of people are living with chronic disease, the need for critical care services is increasing. Current literature supports the utilization of physician intensivists to directly guide care for these critically ill patients in an effort to achieve optimal patient outcomes, however, the growing shortage limits availability of these specialists, potentially increasing morbidity and mortality rates as well as overall costs. While many civilian institutions have begun utilizing modified care teams of physician intensivists and mid-level providers such as nurse practitioners to aid in achieving patient care goals, there is little published to support their use in the military healthcare system.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1040926
Entities
People
- April J Dunlevy
Organizations
- Air Command and Staff College