Physician time-saving by employment of expanded-role nurses in family practice

Registered nurses working in five family practices in Kingston, Ontario, were given a period of in-service training and supplementary formal instruction at Queen's University to expand their skills and enable them to undertake prescribed procedures in the physicians' offices. Operational data collected from the five practices before and after training was analysed to assess the saving of physician time effected by the expansion of the nurses' activities in providing primary medical care. Physician time was saved in all cases but the amount varied. The results are presented and discussed in relation to staff, physical premises and patterns of practice of the participating physicians. Under the most advantageous practice circumstances in this study, a 33.7% saving in original physician time was obtained. The mean time-saving for the five practices was 18.2%.