Describe one innovative health care delivery model that incorporates an
interdisciplinary care delivery team. How is this advantageous to patient outcomes.
Describe one innovative health care delivery model that incorporates an interdisciplinary care
delivery team.
Innovative health care models are geared towards addressing issues related to the
increased cost in health care, the escalating number of uninsured persons, overutilization of
community health centers and chronic nurse shortages in the US (Quan, Joseph, Keller, &
Taylor, 2011). These models allow nurses to take up leadership roles where they coordinate
interdisciplinary providers such as pharmacists, social workers, physical therapists, and
physiotherapists among others. The models also place confer nurses the role of integrators
and efficiency experts (Beattie, 2009).
The Hospital at Home model is one of the innovative care model encompassing an
interdisciplinary approach. This model is applied on patients older than sixty five years
manifested with obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, pneumonia and cellulitis. The
spirit of this model is in prevention of complications such as delirium common in older
patients which usually results from hospitalization. Patients are discharged from hospital and
are allocated a Hospital at Home physician who visits the patient at home on a daily basis.
Other health care providers assigned to a particular Hospital at Home patient include a
nursing assistant and registered nurse serving as the coordinator of care (Kimball & Joynt,
2007).
The registered nurse often requires monitoring the patient round the clock on the first
day of hospital at home care. The interdisciplinary team offers patient centered care in
coordination with the patient’s family. Care includes administering intravenous fluid drips
and medication, offering oxygen therapy and obtaining x-rays, echocardiograms and
Innovative health care delivery 2
electrocardiograms. The registered nurse being the coordinator of care also provides
education and other supplementary services. This model of care guarantees quality care, it is
less costly than acute care in the hospital, offers greater patient satisfaction and significantly
reduces risks such as delirium (Kimball & Joynt, 2007).
References
Beattie, L. (2009). New Health Care Delivery Models are Redefining the Role of Nurses.
news-events/more-features/New-Health-Care-Delivery-Models-are-Redefining-the-
Role-of-Nurses_29442.aspx
Kimball, B., & Joynt, j. (2007). The Quest for New Innovative Care Delivery Models. The
Journal of Nursing Administration, 37(9), 392-398.
Quan, X., Joseph, A., Keller, A., & Taylor, E. (2011, March). Designing Safety Net Clinics
for Innovative Care Delivery Models. Califonia HealthCare Foundation, 1-19.