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Well-child care by pediatric nurse practitioners in a large group practice. A controlled study in 1,152 preschool
Insights
Pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) effectively provided well-child care for over 1,000 children. This study found PNPs to be competent, reducing costs without impacting medical facility use.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Healthcare
- Nurse Practitioner Practice
- Preventive Medicine
Background:
- Well-child care is crucial for monitoring child development and health.
- Assessing the role of advanced practice nurses in primary pediatric care is essential.
- Evaluating cost-effectiveness and patient acceptance in group practice settings is important.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of well-child care delivered by pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs).
- To assess PNP competence, parental acceptance, and impact on healthcare utilization.
- To determine the cost-effectiveness of PNP-led well-child services.
Main Methods:
- A controlled two-year study involving 1,152 children aged newborn to 22 months.
- Care was provided within a large, prepaid group practice healthcare plan.
- Data collected on patient health maintenance, parental acceptance, facility utilization, and costs.
Main Results:
- Pediatric nurse practitioners demonstrated full competence in maintaining child health.
- Parents generally accepted the care provided by PNPs.
- Minimal impact on the utilization of medical care facilities was observed.
- Costs associated with well-child care were significantly reduced.
Conclusions:
- PNPs are capable and effective providers of well-child care in group practice settings.
- PNP-led well-child care is a cost-effective model with high parental acceptance.
- This model can be implemented without negatively affecting healthcare facility usage.
Abstract:
A controlled two-year study of the effectiveness of well-child care by pediatric nurse practitioners (PNPs) of 1,152 children, newborns through age 22 months, was made at the Kaiser-Peranente Medical Centers in San Francisco and Oakland, Calif. In this setting of a large, prepaid, group practice health care plan, the PNPs were found to be entirely competent in maintaining the health of their patients, and were generally accepted by the parents. Effects on utilization of medical care facilities were minimal. Costs of well-child care were reduced.