Managed Healthcare Executive January 9, 2020
After analyzing data about risk of death and emergency department usage for its cancer patients, Northwest Medical Specialties opened a walk-in clinic.
A nurse practitioner staffs the clinic, which is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. The goal is to treat the acute symptoms that cancer patients experience—such as pain, dizziness, and diarrhea—and avoid trips to the emergency department.
The practice—with six locations in the Tacoma, Washington area—plans to hire a second advanced practice provider to staff the acute-care service at a second location.
Before launching the clinic, the practice conducted a six-month pilot, demonstrating sufficient patient demand and satisfaction with the service to justify the cost.
“This was an example of a practice transformation—of how this...
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