Rethinking the cost of care: Nurse practitioners as stewards of clinical and patient resources

J Am Assoc Nurse Pract. 2019 May;31(5):285-287. doi: 10.1097/JXX.0000000000000145.

Abstract

Clinicians are the building blocks of value-based care, yet the cumulative human and financial cost of daily care decisions are mostly hidden from them. As essential primary care providers, nurse practitioners play a role in driving efficiency and resourcefulness in care. The growth and expanded capabilities of the specialty give nurse practitioners a powerful voice in setting standards for clinical stewardship. Yet to be successful in this effort, nurse practitioners must have a better understanding of cost containment and cost reduction to make better decisions. This means synthesizing cost and risk data, efficacy, and patient advocacy to propagate value-based decision making and standardized quality care across our organizations. Clinicians need to understand that caring about patients means being good stewards while caring for patients.

MeSH terms

  • Decision Making*
  • Health Care Costs / standards*
  • Health Care Costs / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Nurse Practitioners / economics*
  • Nurse Practitioners / trends
  • Patient Advocacy
  • Resource Allocation / methods*