Collaborative nurse practitioner and physician health care service provision for at-risk seniors in Fort St. John, B.C.

Collaborative nurse practitioner and physician primary health care service provision has the potential to improve access, ensure quality, and promote cost effective primary health care and case management for frail elders. Through a critical appraisal of research, this paper will seek to explore outcomes regarding the provision of collaborative nurse practitioner and physician community based primary health care service for the frail elderly. The research substantiates that collaborative nurse practitioner and physician health care service provision to at-risk seniors reduces emergency department utilization, reduces admissions to hospitals and nursing homes, and maintains or improves functional capacity. Three integrated health care service delivery models will be discussed, critiqued, and woven into these research findings to serve as a framework to sift these research finding into practice. Finally, recommendations based on this research will be proposed for integration into the Northern Health Authority Integrated Health Network for at-risk seniors in Fort St. John, B.C. for application of these research findings in practice..--P.ii.