Alternative patient care delivery systems: a combined ophthalmic nursing unit and a cost effective ophthalmic surgery program

Abstract

To be competitive as a tertiary facility in today's healthcare environment, our institute implemented two nursing programs using the Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) framework: a) creation of the Nursing and Trauma Center, a nursing unit with the flexibility to adjust to continuing changes in patient mix comprising three nursing units (eye emergency room, same day surgery unit, and inpatient unit) designed to consolidate and standardize care to ophthalmic patients and develop a multi-skilled nursing staff to provide nursing care to all ophthalmic patient populations; and b) creation of the Controlled Medical Intensity (CMI) program, in which certain ophthalmic surgeries are performed in the most cost effective and efficient manner (while maintaining quality care). Conceived to compete with surgi-centers, CMI surgery is performed under local retrobulbar anesthesia with minimal, one-time intravenous (IV) conscious sedation (administered by operating room/recovery room nurses according to a standard protocol). Surgical supplies are standardized. These expanded roles have given nurses the opportunity to practice professional autonomy using nursing judgment.