Year: 2010

The nurse practitioner (NP) role is new to BC and its impact has yet to be evaluated. The proposed multi-year study will evaluate a practice innovation – the integration of NPs into the BC healthcare system, and will establish a framework for sustainable ongoing evaluation of the impact of NP practice on those they serve and the health care system. The study process will be divided into three parts addressing the following broad questions:

1. What changes result for patients, and what are the implications for the health care system when NPs become part of the care process?
2. What is the impact of adding a NP to the functioning of collaborative health care teams?
3. What are the practice settings and scope of practice of NPs working in BC?

The final work of the project team will be to use the study findings to develop an ongoing evaluation method for future data collection and evaluation of NPs’ practice and impact.

CDM was launched in Fraser Health in July 2010, with plans to implement the model across all residential care beds in the Health Authority. The model consists of three inter-related aspects: staff mix, funding methodology and direct care hours. CDM sets a goal of reaching 3.36 direct care hours per resident per day across Fraser Health by targeting residents, their families and staff in residential care programs in FH-operated facilities. The evaluation project will examine Phase 1 of the implementation of CDM (July 2010 to January 2011) and will include monitoring funding indicators as well as quality of care indicators.