An ambulatist is a licensed
health care provider who specializes in the prevention, management, and care coordination of
ambulatory patients with chronic diseases by using lifestyle medicine and drug therapy.
History
Nearly half of all Americans live with at least one chronic condition and ~70% of all American deaths can be attributed directly to chronic diseases. Care coordination is necessary to curb the progression and cost associated with chronic disease in The United States.
The ambulatist model of care coordination began in 2008 at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. The Cardiovascular Risk Reduction Prog ram (CVRRP) and Diabetes Risk Reduction Program (DMRRP) are employee wellness benefit programs for Creighton employees with the diagnoses of
hypertension,
dyslipidemia
Dyslipidemia is an abnormal amount of lipids (e.g. triglycerides, cholesterol and/or fat phospholipids) in the blood. Dyslipidemia is a risk factor for the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease ( ASCVD). ASCVD includes coronary ar ...
and/or
diabetes
Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level ( hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time. Symptoms often include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased ...
.
The programs are run by a health care specialty position called the "ambulatist". An ambulatist can be any licensed health care provider who receives training in direct patient care and lifestyle medicine. The areas of lifestyle medicine emphasized can include physical activity, nutrition, weight control, stress management, sleep success and tobacco cessation.
Creighton University
Creighton University is a private Jesuit research university in Omaha, Nebraska. Founded by the Society of Jesus in 1878, the university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. In 2015 the university enrolled 8,393 graduate and undergra ...
is now developing an ambulatist training program to expand the use of ambulatist services across a variety of practice settings.
Goals and responsibilities
The goals of an ambulatist include:
* Advocacy for improved patient outcomes.
* Integrating services and resources.
* Avoiding duplicated, contraindicated or incompatible treatments and unnecessary costs.
* Improving patient and caregiver education.
* Enhancing the overall care of the patient.
The responsibilities of an ambulatist include:
* Designing and implementing individualized lifestyle medicine programs consisting of physical activity, nutrition, weight control, stress management, sleep success, alcohol moderation, tobacco cessation and others.
* Designing and implementing individualized health behavior change strategies.
* Acting as an advocate for the needs of the patient and as a liaison for the patient's health care providers.
* Facilitating inter-professional health care on behalf of the individual patient including effective communication and coordination of treatment and prevention strategies.
* Monitoring outcomes and resource use.
* Ensuring patient adherence to individualized lifestyle programs, drug therapy, and other prescribed interventions.
* Communicating with the family members of the patient to inform and educate.
See also
*
Ambulatory care
Ambulatory care or outpatient care is medical care provided on an outpatient basis, including diagnosis, observation, consultation, treatment, intervention, and rehabilitation services. This care can include advanced medical technology and proce ...
*
Primary care
Primary care is the day-to-day healthcare given by a health care provider. Typically this provider acts as the first contact and principal point of continuing care for patients within a healthcare system, and coordinates other specialist care ...
*
Reason for encounter
Reason is the capacity of consciously applying logic by drawing conclusions from new or existing information, with the aim of seeking the truth. It is closely associated with such characteristically human activities as philosophy, science, langu ...
*
Health care provider
A health care provider is an individual health professional or a health facility organization licensed to provide health care diagnosis and treatment services including medication, surgery and medical devices. Health care providers often receive ...
*
Ambulatory care nursing Ambulatory care nursing is the nursing care of patients who receive treatment on an outpatient basis, ie they do not require admission to a hospital for an overnight stay. Ambulatory care includes those clinical, organizational and professional act ...
*
Ambulatory as a medical term
*
National Association for Ambulatory Urgent Care
References
{{Reflist
Health care occupations