A Nurse-Run Public Health Clinic for Individuals Utilizing a Community Outreach Center

J Community Health Nurs. 2021 Jul-Sep;38(3):173-178. doi: 10.1080/07370016.2021.1932951.

Abstract

This article describes a nurse-run clinic for low-income individuals or individuals experiencing homelessness. We conducted a quality improvement project using data from 111 individuals over 194 visits. Thirty-seven percent of patients had difficulty managing their health and 22% reported being in an active health crisis. The visits resulted in patients leaving with their visit goal being met (86%), and 96% of nonemergent cases being diverted from the emergency room. The nurse-run clinic provided access to care and served as a safety net for a vulnerable population, providing support for this clinic model with this population.

MeSH terms

  • Community-Institutional Relations / trends*
  • Humans
  • Practice Patterns, Nurses' / organization & administration
  • Practice Patterns, Nurses' / trends*
  • Public Health / instrumentation
  • Public Health / methods*
  • Quality Improvement