El Nurse-led en la Atención Primaria de Salud: una oportuna y prometedora innovación organizativa / Nurse-led in Primary Health Care setting: a well-timed and promising organizational innovation

En la actualidad, la fuerte crisis económica junto con el aumento de la prevalencia de las enfermedades crónicas, está llevando a diferentes países a considerar una reforma de sus servicios de Atención Primaria de Salud (APS) con el objetivo de mejorar su eficiencia y de disminuir las desigualdades en salud. Para ello se están llevando a cabo diferentes iniciativas entre las que destaca la provisión de servicios sanitarios e intervenciones dirigidas por enfermeras, en inglés Nurse-led. El propósito de este artículo es poner de manifiesto el conocimiento disponible, las controversias y las oportunidades acerca del Nurse-led en el ámbito de la APS. Los servicios e intervenciones Nurse-leden APS han mostrado ser tanto o más efectivos que la atención habitual en las áreas de prevención de la enfermedad, el seguimiento de las personas con enfermedades crónicas y como primer punto de contacto en la atención de personas con problemas de salud leves. No obstante, los estudios de evaluación económica son escasos por lo que, su eficiencia aún es potencial. En conclusión, el Nurse-led puede representar una iniciativa organizativa innovadora con el potencial de dar una respuesta adecuada a las actuales necesidades de salud de la población así como una oportunidad tanto para la profesión enfermera como para los sistemas de APS y sanitarios en general

At present, the severe economic crisis along with the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases is leading to different countries to consider updating their Primary Health Care (PHC) services in order to make them more efficient and reduce health inequalities. To that end, various initiatives are being carried out, such as the provision of Nurse-led services and INTERVENTIONS: The purpose of this article is to present the available knowledge, controversies and opportunities for Nurse-led initiatives in the setting of PHC. Nurse- led interventions or health services in PHC have proven to be equal or more effective than usual care in disease prevention, the routine follow-up of patients with chronic conditions, and first contact care for people with minor illness. However, as there are only a few health economic evaluation studies published their efficiency is still potential. In conclusion, the Nurse-led care could be an innovative organizational initiative with the potential to provide an adequate response to the contemporary health needs of the population, as well as an opportunity for the nursing profession and for PHC and health systems in general

[Nurse-led in Primary Health Care setting: a well-timed and promising organizational innovation]. / El Nurse-led en la Atención Primaria de Salud: una oportuna y prometedora innovación organizativa.

At present, the severe economic crisis along with the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases is leading to different countries to consider updating their Primary Health Care (PHC) services in order to make them more efficient and reduce health inequalities. To that end, various initiatives are being carried out, such as the provision of Nurse-led services and interventions. The purpose of this article is to present the available knowledge, controversies and opportunities for Nurse-led initiatives in the setting of PHC. Nurse- led interventions or health services in PHC have proven to be equal or more effective than usual care in disease prevention, the routine follow-up of patients with chronic conditions, and first contact care for people with minor illness. However, as there are only a few health economic evaluation studies published their efficiency is still potential. In conclusion, the Nurse-led care could be an innovative organizational initiative with the potential to provide an adequate response to the contemporary health needs of the population, as well as an opportunity for the nursing profession and for PHC and health systems in general.