Complementary nursing--an acute care case management model. Part II--Evaluation

Complementary nursing is an acute care case management delivery system developed to maintain high quality care while controlling health care costs. In this article, the authors describe results of a multi-method evaluation of complementary nursing. Patient, staff, ancillary department, physician, and administration responses were positive and indicated that the program improved the quality and coordination of patient care. Readmissions and direct costs decreased, and there was growth in nursing expertise. The development and implementation of the Complementary Nursing Program was described in Part I of this article, appearing in the September/October 1997 issue of Nursing Case Management.