2023/12/01
Okayama University
Keio University
A research group led by Professor Naoko Harada of the Institute of Health System Integration Science at Okayama University, in collaboration with Professor Miho Suzuki of the Faculty of Nursing and Medical Care at Keio University, the National Hospital Organization Nagasaki Medical Center, the social welfare corporation Fukuju no Mori, and Tohoku Bunka Gakuen University, conducted a retrospective study at special nursing homes for the elderly in Miyagi Prefecture from October 2019 to September 2022. The study found that the placement of nurse practitioners led to improvements such as a reduction in emergency visits, appropriate use of medical resources, and suppression of rising medical costs, clarifying the importance of nurse practitioners in special nursing homes for the elderly. The results of this research were published online on November 29 in the U.S. journal The Journal for Nurse Practitioners .
Nurse practitioners are nurses who have completed training in the knowledge of medical sciences and the practice of primary care. In addition to being able to perform more invasive procedures than conventional nurses, nurse practitioners receive specialized education in foundational knowledge of diseases and treatment methods to provide holistic patient care. They are capable of promptly assessing a patient's condition, performing tests and procedures, and providing appropriate explanations.
Key Points of the Announcement
Although special nursing homes for the elderly are required to have a physician on staff, they are often not full-time, making nurses the primary providers of medical care.
This study confirmed that the placement of nurse practitioners (NPs), who can autonomously provide a certain level of medical care in collaboration with other professionals such as physicians and pharmacists, is effective in reducing emergency visits, contributing to the appropriate use of medical resources, and curbing the increase in medical costs.
The evaluation of the economic effects and role of nurse practitioner placement from this study is expected to indicate the future direction of care in elderly care facilities and have a significant impact on policy-making and the management of long-term care facilities.
For the full press release, please see below.