Four Nurse Practitioners Announced for Nursing
PREMIER'S OFFICE--Four Nurse Practitioners Announced for Nursing Homes
Some nursing home residents in four health districts will soon have access to a nurse practitioner on-site to help provide them with care better suited to meet their needs.
Premier Darrell Dexter, today, Feb. 17, announced that as part of the Better Care Sooner plan, four new nurse practitioners will be hired to work in nursing homes in the Cape Breton, South Shore, South West and Cumberland health districts.
"Better Care Sooner is about providing the right care in the right place to the people of Nova Scotia," said Premier Dexter.
"Nurse practitioners will contribute to more effective and efficient patient care for residents, help reduce wait times in emergency rooms, and most importantly give seniors the care they need in the right place."
Hiring more nurse practitioners is one of 33 actions outlined in Better Care Sooner. The new nurse practitioners will provide proactive alternatives to emergency and acute care for nursing home residents. They will be part of community-based, primary care teams working in collaboration with family doctors and other providers.
Their role will include immunizations, chronic disease prevention and management, medication reviews, liaising with other health-care providers and enhancing the continuity of care. It is expected that the new positions will reduce unnecessary visits to emergency rooms from nursing home residents.
"The Cumberland Health Authority has nurse practitioners in communities across the district and we know first-hand the very positive impact they have on the delivery of primary health care," said Bruce Quigley, authority CEO.
"The addition of the nurse practitioners to long term care will definitely provide positive benefits for the health and well-being of those living in nursing home facilities."
The district health authorities expected to have the nurse practitioners in place by the spring. The four positions and operating expenses will cost about $568,000 annually.
"Hiring more nurse practitioners is part of the commitment we made to the people of this province and will lead to better health care for Nova Scotia families," said Premier Dexter.
The Better Care Sooner plan, announced last December, will improve the quality of emergency care, reduce overcrowding and wait times for patients in emergency rooms, and provide better health care for families.
The plan is based on the recommendations of Dr. John Ross, the province's emergency care advisor.