New Program Uses Nurses and Nurse Practitioners to Help Ease Crowded Emergency Rooms

As a way to reduce the number of trips to the emergency room, Louisville (KY) Emergency Medical Services has initiated a new program to help patients determine the most appropriate health care for their conditions.,. Begun in April of this year, the program uses nurses or nurse practitioners to talk by phone to patients who have what was considered lower risk conditions, such as an ear ache or a stomach ache. Nurses can spend more quality time with patients, thus better determining if emergency medical services or needed. Richmond, VA, is the only other city that has implemented this kind of program. Read more here.

Learn about other nurse-led health care initiatives from the CCNA website.

Source: USA Today 6.1.10