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Using cost-analysis techniques to measure the value of nurse practitioner care
1University of Colorado Health Science Center School of Nursing, Denver, Colorado 80262, USA. deborah.vincent@uchsc.edu
International Nursing Review
|December 21, 2002
Summary
Nurse practitioners (NPs) must document their care's cost-effectiveness to demonstrate value and compete in healthcare. Linking patient outcomes with cost data is crucial for NPs to influence policy and secure their role.
Area of Science:
- Health Services Research
- Health Economics
- Nursing Practice
Background:
- Nurse practitioners (NPs) provide high-quality care globally.
- Limited financial support and patient access competition necessitate demonstrating NP value.
- Cost-effectiveness documentation is vital for NPs in diverse healthcare systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the business practices of an academic-based nurse-managed center using cost analysis.
- To highlight the importance of cost-effectiveness for nurse practitioner (NP) practice.
- To identify strategies for NPs to document their value in competitive healthcare environments.
Main Methods:
- Utilized cost analysis, a business tool, to evaluate an academic-based nurse-managed center.
- Examined the integration of cost analysis techniques into NP practice.
- Linked patient outcome data with cost data to illustrate NP practice value.
Main Results:
- Cost analysis is an effective business tool for NPs across healthcare systems.
- Linking outcome and cost data effectively demonstrates the value of NP practice.
- NPs face competition from primary care physicians and other providers.
Conclusions:
- Nurse practitioners must adopt cost-analysis techniques to document their practice's value.
- Demonstrating both quality and cost-effectiveness is essential for NPs to compete.
- Documenting care value is critical for NPs to influence healthcare policy and decision-making.