Marie-Luce Garceau

Nurse practitioner’s perceptions of the impact of the nurse practitioner-led clinic model on the quality of care of complex patients

AimTo evaluate the organizational processes that influence the quality of care for patients with multimorbidity at nurse practitioner-led clinics (NPLCs). BACKGROUND: People are living longer, most with one or more chronic diseases (mulitmorbidity) and primary healthcare for these patients has become increasingly complex. One response was the establishment of new models of primary healthcare. NPLCs are an example of a model developed in Ontario, Canada, which feature nurse practitioners as the primary care providers practicing within an interprofessional team. Evaluation of the extent to which the processes within NPLC model addressed the needs of patients with multimorbidity is warranted. METHODS: Eight nurse practitioners were interviewed to determine their perception of the quality of care provided to patients with multimorbidity at NPLCs. Interpretive description guided the analysis and themes were identified.FindingsThree themes arose from the analysis, each of which has an impact on the quality of care. The level of patient vulnerability at the NPLCs was high resulting in the need to address social and financial issues before the care of chronic conditions. Dynamics within the interprofessional team impacted the quality of patient care, including NP recruitment and retention, leaves of absence and turnover in staff at the NPLCs had an effect on interprofessional team functioning and patient care. Finally, coordination of care at the NPLCs, such as length of appointments, determined the extent to which attention was given to individual clinical issues was a factor. Strategies to address social determinants of health and for recruitment and retention of NPs is essential for improved quality of care. Comprehensive orientation to the interprofessional team as well as flexibility in care processes may also have positive effects on the quality of care of patients with complex clinical issues.

Quality of Care for Patients With Diabetes and Mulitmorbidity Registered at Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics

Background Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics are a new model of primary healthcare in Ontario. Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics are distinctive in that nurse practitioners are the primary care providers working with an interprofessional team. There have been no evaluations of the quality of care within the Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic model. Purpose Evaluation of the Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic model, specifically for complex clinical presentations, will provide insights that may be used to inform improvements to the delivery of care in the Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics. The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent to which diabetes care was complete and to determine the impact of organizational tools, including electronic medical record tracking, diabetes care template, and referral to community programs, on the completeness of care for patients with diabetes and multimorbidity at Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics. Methods An audit of 30 charts was conducted at five different Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics (n = 150) for patients with diabetes and at least one other chronic condition. Indicators included patient and organizational characteristics as well as diabetes care items taken from diabetes clinical guidelines. Results Overall, care for patients with diabetes and multimorbidity in Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinics was complete. However, there were no significant associations between patient or organizational characteristics and the extent to which diabetes care was complete.