Developing effective models of care: The role of nurses in chronic disease management

Patients with multiple chronic disease conditions, such as coronary heart disease (CHD) and poorly controlled diabetes have an increased risk of adverse outcomes and high health care costs. Coexisting depression in addition to these medical conditions is associated with a further increase in morbidity, mortality, disability, and reduced quality of life. Developing effective models of patient care is a key challenge in improving the performance of health care systems. Nurses are particularly well prepared to manage patients with chronic illnesses, ...