Nursing care models increase care quality while reducing costs

Unique models of care delivery, such as the Nursing Care Partnership model for practice used at the Denver Nursing Project in Human Caring, have demonstrated a reduction in inpatient admissions, mean length of stay, and total charges. This descriptive study identified and described clients' (N = 75) perceptions of care and explored the cost-effectiveness of this model. Findings suggest nursing care partnerships play a key role in reducing healthcare costs by providing services in a more cost-efficient setting and by having an impact on client utilization of services. Savings in potential hospital costs were estimated at $1,590,384 for 1993.