Investigating the Role of Nurse Practitioners in Enhancing Access to Rural Primary Healthcare Services
Posted: Apr 26, 2023
Abstract
This comprehensive study examines the transformative impact of nurse practitioners (NPs) on rural primary healthcare access through a novel mixed-methodsapproachthatcombinesgeospatialanalysis, longitudinalpatient outcome tracking, and qualitative phenomenological inquiry. Unlike previous research that primarily focused on urban settings or specific medical conditions, ourinvestigationspans42ruralcommunitiesacross8states, employingaunique temporal-spatial framework to assess healthcare accessibility patterns over a 36- month period. The research introduces an innovative Healthcare Accessibility Index (HAI) that incorporates both traditional distance metrics and novel tem- poral accessibility measures, accounting for seasonal variations in travel condi- tions and appointment availability. Our methodology represents a significant departure from conventional healthcare access studies by integrating real-time mobility data, electronic health record analysis, and in-depth practitioner narra- tives to create a multidimensional understanding of NP-led care delivery. The findings reveal that communities with integrated NP services demonstrated a 47
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