Some observations on a program attaching public health nurses to family physicians' offices

This study examined a program attaching public health nurses to specific family physicians practicing in the community. It compared the work of attached and nonattached public health nurses in both the urban and rural sections of a health district in Ontario, Canada. It found that attached nurses receive a greater proportion of their referrals from family physicians, see a greater percentage of elderly patients, and deal with proportionately more psychosocial cases. The study also indicated that the attached public health nurse does not complain of physician misuse of her services and that, once a referral has been made, communication between the physician and public health nurse improves.