Consumers at the heart of care: Developing a nurse-led community-based infusion service

• Published in: Kai tiaki nursing research Vol. 7; no. 1; pp. 27 - 31
• Main Authors: Hendry, Chris, Ogden, Emma
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wellington, N.Z New Zealand Nurses Organisation 01.09.2016; New Zealand Nurses' Organisation
• Subjects: Ambulatory medical care; Anti-infective agents; Clinics; Community health care; Community nursing; Cost control; Evidence-based nursing; Feedback; Intravenous therapy; Management; Nurse practitioners; Nurses; Nursing; Patient satisfaction; Practice; Quality of care; Training of; New Zealand
• ISSN: 1179-772X

The aim of this paper is to share findings from an evaluation of a community-based, nurse-run intravenous (IV) therapy clinic, established in Christchurch, New Zealand, with a focus on feedback from consumers, referrers and nurses. Nurse Maude’s district nursing services have provided IV therapy in the home for many years. Following the 2011 Canterbury earthquakes, when many homes were in a poor or unsanitary condition, an IV therapy centre was established in the Nurse Maude community specialty nursing clinic, as an alternative venue. In 2014, the New Zealand Institute of Community Health Care was asked to evaluate the service, to inform decision-making on its future. A mixed-methods approach was used for the evaluation, including analysis of financial and service activity data; qualitative feedback was sought from consumers, referrers and staff, to gauge the impact of the services from their perspective. The evaluation was also to provide recommendations about continuation of the service. Findings from the evaluation of this seven-day-a-week service indicated it was a safe and popular choice for clients, as well as an efficient and cost-effective way of delivering the service for both consumers and staff. The overall 20 percent increase in referrals to the service over the first 18 months was seen as showing that referrers and consumers had confidence in the service. This service broadened the IV therapy options available in the community, enabling consumers to avoid the need to visit the hospital for more complex IV therapies. With a trend towards community-based health care provision for those with complex treatment needs, alternative ways of providing traditional services in these settings need to be explored.