Author : Tracy A. Wingert
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 0 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (415 download)
Book Synopsis Perceptions of Emergency Department Physicians Toward Collaborative Practice With Nurse Practitioners in an Emergency Department Setting by : Tracy A. Wingert
Download or read book Perceptions of Emergency Department Physicians Toward Collaborative Practice With Nurse Practitioners in an Emergency Department Setting written by Tracy A. Wingert and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Once considered reserved for life-threatening disease or illness, emergency departments in the United States are now described as the primary care clinic and the social work department for many Americans (Grumback, Keane & Bindman, 1993). A 1992 study found 2 million children in the United States routinely used the emergency department as their primary source of care (Halfon, Newacheck, Wood & Peter, 1996). Studies have shown 50-90% of all patients presenting to emergency departments have minor complaints which could easily be treated in primary care settings (Dowling & Dudley, 1995; Grumbach et al., 1993). The non-urgent use of emergency departments has led to overcrowding, long waiting times and patient dissatisfaction (Grumbach et al., 1993; Derlet & Nisho, 1990, Liggins, 1993). Overcrowding and inappropriate use of the emergency department also interferes with the care of critically ill patients (Dowling & Dudley, 1995). Civilian hospitals have developed various strategies to address patients with minor complaints varying from outright refusal of care, to triaging to off-site clinics, developing non-urgent care clinics and establishing Fast Track Clinics also known as Minor Emergency Areas (MEAs) within existing emergency departments. These Fast Track clinics have been staffed with a variety of non-physician, mid-level health care providers including nurse practitioners.
