Okayama University, Keio University, National Hospital Organization Nagasaki Medical Center, social welfare corporation Fukujunomori, and Tohoku Bunka Gakuen University have reduced the number of emergency visits by deploying nurse practitioners (NPs) to special nursing homes. It was revealed that improvements have been made in the proper use of medical resources and in controlling increases in medical costs.
Currently, although special nursing homes are required to have a doctor, many do not have a doctor on duty full-time, leaving nurses as the main source of medical care.On the other hand, NP is a qualification certified by the Japan NP Education Graduate School Council for nurses who have completed medical knowledge and practice related to primary care. They are able to carry out medical treatment at a certain level more autonomously than other nurses.
In this study, we conducted a retrospective survey using anonymized past medical care data for special nursing homes in Miyagi Prefecture for the period from October 2019 to September 10. We verified the effectiveness.As a result, it was found that the following effects were observed.
1. Assignment of NP reduced the number of emergency visits.This is thought to be because NPs have the ability to quickly respond to sudden health problems of users (elderly people).
2. The placement of NPs has been shown to have the potential to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations and contribute to the appropriate use of medical resources.
3． Assignment of NPs suppressed the increase in daily medical costs.This is because, even if the level of care required becomes more severe as the user ages, NPs with efficient health management skills can work with care workers to provide detailed daily care. It will be done.
In this way, this study, which clarified the role and economic effects of NP, is expected to have a major impact on future policy formulation and senior care facility management. Although NPs are a new role for nurses and still have little social recognition, they are expected to have an important effect on the medical economy by optimizing the allocation of medical personnel in the future.
Paper information:【The Journal for Nurse Practitioners】Nurse Practitioner Placement in A Nursing Home in Japan
