Primary care in the emergency room: a collaborative model

Area of Science:

• Health Services Research
• Nursing Practice
• Primary Care Models

Background:

• Emergency departments (EDs) are frequently utilized as de facto primary care centers for many populations.
• Existing ED infrastructures and staffing are often inadequate for delivering comprehensive, continuous primary care services.
• There is a growing need for innovative models to address primary care access gaps through emergency services.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a nurse-managed collaborative primary care practice model implemented within an inner-city emergency department.
• To evaluate the long-term functioning and potential of such a model in an urban ED setting.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a nurse-managed collaborative practice model within an existing inner-city emergency department.
• Sustained operation of the model for a period of 8 years.
• Focus on delivering first-line, continuous, comprehensive, and family-oriented care.

Main Results:

• The described model has been successfully functioning for 8 years, demonstrating sustained operation.
• The practice model facilitates the delivery of primary care services within an emergency department setting.
• Highlights the adaptability of emergency departments to incorporate primary care functions through collaborative nursing management.

Conclusions:

• Nurse-managed collaborative primary care models can be effectively integrated into urban emergency departments.
• Such models offer a viable solution for enhancing primary care access and continuity for underserved populations.
• This approach demonstrates the potential for EDs to evolve beyond acute care to provide essential primary health services.