Comparisons of Two Types of Nonphysician Providers Using Episode Based Data
Author: Dunn, Earl
Date Published: 1987
Using episode based data, analysis of those patients with diagnoses of upper reparatory infection or laceration seen in a remote setting revealed that the medical care given by nurse practitioners and minimally trained indigenous health aides was comparable in relation to management and outcome. Specifically, the average number of visits per episode, the length of episodes and the percentage of patients who subsequently developed complications were similar for the nurses and the health aides. Although both the nurses and the health aides managed over 90 percent of the patients independently, the health aides were more likely to communicate, refer or transfer the patient to the care of another provider. These findings, if applicable to medical problems in general, imply that nonphysician providers in a remote setting can give quality care and can be trained to manage conditions appropriately, if the needed back-up is available.
Date Published: 1987
Using episode based data, analysis of those patients with diagnoses of upper reparatory infection or laceration seen in a remote setting revealed that the medical care given by nurse practitioners and minimally trained indigenous health aides was comparable in relation to management and outcome. Specifically, the average number of visits per episode, the length of episodes and the percentage of patients who subsequently developed complications were similar for the nurses and the health aides. Although both the nurses and the health aides managed over 90 percent of the patients independently, the health aides were more likely to communicate, refer or transfer the patient to the care of another provider. These findings, if applicable to medical problems in general, imply that nonphysician providers in a remote setting can give quality care and can be trained to manage conditions appropriately, if the needed back-up is available.
