Primary care bundle aims to reduce ED, hospital readmissions

NEW ORLEANS — A bundled care approach called Health 360 designed by a group of nurse practitioners at the University of Arizona College of Nursing is aiming to improve the quality of care for complex patients at high risk for readmission to the ED or hospital. 

“The bundle is designed to be applied by an interprofessional collaborative care team and facilitated by nurse practitioners,” Paula Christianson-Silva, DNP, RN, ANP-BC, explained during a poster session at the American Association of Nurse Practitioners 2015 meeting.

The care team consisted of three nurse practitioners, a full time registered nurse, a full time community health worker, three physicians and a pharmacist that meet once a week to discuss the patients and ensure a higher level of access to care to prevent the patients from returning to the hospital.