The MD2U Model
MD2U was founded in 2004 by physician J. Michael Benfield, MD with the mission of providing the highest quality primary care to patients who are home bound or home limited and reducing unnecessary and potentially avoidable costly hospital visits. Dr. Benfield soon realized the need for this type of care was far greater than he had anticipated. Because these patients are often times chronically ill with multiple comorbidities they would require frequent visits to the home by a provider with advanced skill sets. This fact, along with the tremendous shortage of primary care physicians and great demand for in home care left only one option for expanding the MD2U mission. The MD2U model would include a team approach to health care by employing physicians, physicians’ assistants, and nurse practitioners, although the expansion model would be most efficiently propagated through the employment and use of the services of the latter, the nurse practitioner (NP). By combining this model along with close collaboration of the patient’s health care team and numerous community based resources (i.e., home health, social workers, pharmacy consultations, respiratory services, physical therapy, etc.), MD2U can provide patients and family members with the most efficient, comprehensive, and holistic approach to their care and address their often times complex health issues.
Recently MD2U has grown to a company of nearly 50 employees which includes providers and patient care coordinators. MD2U’s house calls have doubled each year since its inception and over 25,000 house calls were made by our team in 2010. One recent home health study shows a significant improvement in our patients’ readmission rates to the hospital. In various disease states including Heart Failure and Diabetes, our readmission rates were nearly 50% less than those who did not receive MD2U’s services prior. “The MD2U Impact”, Dr. Benfield said, “is the primary reason we do what we do. We realize there is a great need for this type of healthcare in the future and want to provide the best possible care to our patients and their family members. By working closely with our local hospital teams, physicians, and insurance providers, we can make a significant impact on our patient’s lives, helping them to live independently longer as well as aiding in the reduction of overall costs of health care”.
What is a Nurse Practitioner?
Nurse Practitioners have completed extensive medical education and training and can provide any care a primary care physician can (excluding prescribing Level 2 narcotics). Nurse Practitioners hold national board certification in an area of specialty and are licensed or certified through the state nursing boards rather than medical boards. Our nurse practitioners focus on individualized holistic care of our patients as well as the effects of illness on the lives of the patients and their families. NPs make prevention, wellness, and patient education priorities. Another focus is educating patients about their health and encouraging them to make healthy choices. In addition to health care services, NPs often conduct research and are active in patient advocacy activities. Nurse Practitioners treat both physical and mental conditions through comprehensive history taking, physical exams, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests and are then able to determine the diagnosis and provide appropriate treatment plan for the patients, including prescribing medications.[1] NPs can also serve as a patient's primary health care provider and see patients of all ages depending on their specialty. In the United States, nurse practitioners have a national board certification. Nurse Practitioners can be educated and nationally certified in areas of Family Health (FNP), Pediatrics, including Pediatric Acute/Chronic Care, Pediatric Critical Care, Pediatric Oncology and general Pediatrics (PNP), Neonatology (NNP), Gerontology (GNP), Women's Health (WHNP), Psychiatry & Mental Health (PMHNP), Acute Care (ACNP), Adult Health (ANP), Oncology (FNP, ACNP, ANP, PNP or ANP) Emergency (as FNP or ACNP), Occupational Health (as ANP or FNP), etc. In Canada, NPs are licensed by the province or territory in which they practice.
