Parish Nursing : A Home-and-Community-Based Partner in Long-Term Care

Abstract

Skilled Nursing Providers are under financial pressure to boost their census and support residents post-discharge due to new financial penalties for rehospitalizations. One out of every 5 discharged Medicare patients get readmitted to the hospital within a month. Establishing partnerships with Community-Based Parish nurses may be beneficial. Parish nurses focus on health promotion and disease prevention integrated with religious beliefs. Skilled nursing providers and parish nurses serve similar clientele. Parish nurses could potentially be referral informants, help provide people with appropriate care resources, and provide support to residents’ post-discharge that could reduce rehospitalization rates.