Dollars and sense in health reform: interdisciplinary practice and community nursing centers

Historically, community nursing centers (CNCs) provided care to underserved populations, and today they are reemerging to provide accessible, nurse-managed care in urban and rural settings. The quality and cost-effectiveness of care provided by advanced practice nurses in a managed-care environment is described using the Neuman Systems Model. Significant documentation from the literature underscores the value of nurse-managed care, but supports the need for interdisciplinary practice. CNC primary and preventive care in a "center without walls" is described and promoted for accessible, cost-effective and quality care in the context of health care reform.