It began in Big Sandy, Montana. The closest hospital was 35 miles away, until the Big Sandy Medical Center opened up. There was something different about this place though, they perform all of the normal procedures such as physicals, treating the flu, diabetes, broken bones, and more, but a physician is only in the office once a week. Two nurse practitioners supervise the medical center. As mentioned in a previous post on our blog, Nurse Practitioners are able to assess patients, formulate diagnosis, develop and implement treatment plans, order labs and diagnostic tests, and prescribe medications. This has allowed patients that need regular treatments and visits to not take a 70 mile round trip every week. Not only is this efficient, but it is cost effective.
In Vermont, nurses also help physicians improve patient care by saving time and money. Time is obviously something the physicians don't have much of, this is why nurses spend time with the patients, discover their needs, work with the physicians to treat it, and provide medical care. This has reduced emergency room visits and readmission rates, as well as improved their body mass index, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.
Watching this documentary, I gained insight on how important nursing its. Nursing is often overlooked and the physician is seen as the key player in the medical field. Nurses are absolutely more than just doctors assistants. They are there when we enter the world, exit the world, and almost every medical visit in-between. They spend more time than the physician does with the patient. They are the connection between the physician and the patient, so it makes sense that they should be able to asses, diagnose, and treat patients.
Here is the link if you're interested: https://www.discovernursing.com/nursesvital#.VjWMRCRH1sM
-Casey W
"Nurses: Their Vital Role in Transforming Healthcare." DiscoverNursing.com. Johnson and Johnson Services, Inc, n.d. Web. 04 Nov. 2015.
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