Document 0620
 DOCN  M94A0620
 TI    Fried green pentamidine at the Carlton Clinic Cafe. Nurse practitioners,
       HIV infection and private general practice: the way of the future?
 DT    9412
 AU    Mitchell J; Bradford D; Russell D; Murray P; Carlton Clinic, Vic,
       Australia.
 SO    Annu Conf Australas Soc HIV Med. 1993 Oct 28-30;5:74 (poster no. 1).
       Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE ASHM5/94349035
 AB    OBJECTIVES: To investigate the possible role of a nurse counsellor (NC)
       in improving cost effective service delivery for HIV-positive patients
       in the private general practice setting. METHODS: A NC was employed
       under a GP demonstration practice grant by the Commonwealth Department
       of Health for 6 months in an established inner city Melbourne general
       practice providing treatment for at least 240 HIV-positive patients in
       conjunction with 3 full time general practitioners (GPs). RESULTS: The
       patient acceptability of the NC took approximately 3 to 4 months. The NC
       role evolved into providing counselling for test results (HIV antibody
       and other tests), triage, chronic disease counselling and support,
       sexual health counselling, treatment procedures (phlebotomy, dressings,
       pentamidine, DHPG) both at the clinic and in their homes. The GPs were
       more available for the treatment of urgent acute illnesses, and reported
       a decrease in interruptions during clinical practice resulting in an
       improved degree of satisfaction with the quality of their work. Patient
       satisfaction was improved because of increased access to clinical
       services, including home visits, with no loss in quality of clinical
       services. The position was extended to 12 months, though unsure funding
       arrangements added a great deal of stress to the NC position.
       CONCLUSION: This project strongly demonstrates the services that nurses
       can provide in high HIV-infection caseload practices and points the way
       towards the introduction of the nurse practitioner role in the provision
       of improved, cost-effective service delivery in private general
       practice. This model could also apply to other specific chronic
       illnesses such as diabetes and asthma, and funding needs to be increased
       to maintain and expand this role.
 DE    Cost-Benefit Analysis  Counseling/*ECONOMICS  Family Practice/ECONOMICS
       Human  HIV Infections/DRUG THERAPY/ECONOMICS/*NURSING  Patient Care
       Team/ECONOMICS/*TRENDS  Pentamidine/*ADMINISTRATION & DOSAGE/ECONOMICS
       Victoria  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).