Nursing centers are maturing as sites to demonstrate and evaluate new models of care delivery that are especially well suited to providing care to vulnerable populations in partnership with other community-based providers. Nursing centers provide unique learning environments for the development of nurse leaders concerned about care delivery models for vulnerable populations. One such model, an integrated nursing center that spans multiple sites, will be highlighted in this presentation. The purposes of this presentation are to: 1) describe the clinical,financial, and academic issues facing nursing centers that serve vulnerable populations; 2) examine one model consisting of an integrated nursing center spanning three school-based clinics, a clinic for the homeless and a clinic for low income families; 3)evaluate the clinical and organizational outcomes from this integrated nursing center, including outcomes from community partnerships that support the center; and, 4) analyze the current and future potential of nursing centers to develop nursing leadership for designing new models of care delivery for vulnerable populations. Service utilization and clinical data from over 10,000 annual encounters have been recorded at the integrated nursing center sites over the past two years. This presentation will include an analysis of the structure and functioning of the organizational model for the integrated nursing center, and selected clinical and organizational outcomes.
Learning Objectives: 1. Examine the contributions of nursing centers to strengthening access to care for vulnerable populations and to building partnerships with the community. 2. Analyze the clinical and organizational outcomes of an integrated nursing center within a particular local community.
Keywords: Nursing Center, Vulnerable Populations
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.