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A nurse practitioner-managed after-hours clinic for a Native American reservation
1Indian Health Service, Wind River Service Unit, Fort Washakie, Wyoming 82514, USA.
Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
|April 1, 1997
Summary
The Indian Health Service established an after-hours clinic in 1991, utilizing family nurse practitioners for primary care. This initiative expanded healthcare access on the Wind River Reservation.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Healthcare Management
- Primary Care
Background:
- The Indian Health Service (IHS) operates within the Wind River Indian Reservation.
- Traditional healthcare access may be limited, necessitating extended service hours.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the implementation and impact of an after-hours clinic on the Wind River Indian Reservation.
- To highlight the role of family nurse practitioners as primary care providers in this setting.
Main Methods:
- Implementation of an after-hours clinic model.
- Integration of family nurse practitioners into primary care.
- Expansion of clinic hours: 3 hours on weekdays and 8 hours on Sundays.
Main Results:
- The after-hours clinic has been operational since May 1991.
- The family nurse practitioner role was successfully introduced as a primary care provider.
- Additional services including behavioral health, dental, and a women's clinic have been added since inception.
Conclusions:
- The after-hours clinic model effectively expanded healthcare services.
- Family nurse practitioners are integral to providing primary care in underserved areas.
- The clinic has successfully integrated diverse health services to meet community needs.