Applied Nursing Research
Volume 18, Issue 3 , Pages 155-159, August 2005

Acquiring medical services for individuals with mental retardation in community-based housing facilities

  • Kathleen Fisher, PhD, CRNP

      Affiliations

    • Department of Nursing, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19102-1192, USA
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author.
    • ,
  • Brigitte Haagen, DNSc, APRN, BC

      Affiliations

    • Department of Nursing, York College of Pennsylvania, York, PA 17405-7199, USA
    • Tel.: +1 717 815 1243.
    • ,
  • Fredrick Orkin, MD, MBA

      Affiliations

    • Department of Anesthesiology, Penn State University College of Medicine, M. S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
    • Tel.: +1 717 531 8521.

Received 7 February 2004; received in revised form 30 July 2004; accepted 5 August 2004.

Abstract 

As a result of deinstitutionalization, individuals with mental retardation (MR) were moved into the community and primary care practices. Residential agency directors now routinely determine health care decisions. Understanding of issues involved in acquiring services and the clinical decision-making experiences of 13 service agency directors representing 1,400 individuals with MR were investigated. This descriptive study with a qualitative exploratory design included structured interviews that were content analyzed. Four themes describe the barriers encountered, which resulted in the delay or denial of appropriate health services. These themes include effects of stigma, knowledge limitations, resource deficits, and inconsistent decision making. Knowledge of these experiences will assist nurses in problem solving and advocating for the holistic competent care of individuals with MR.

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PII: S0897-1897(05)00035-2

doi:10.1016/j.apnr.2004.08.006

Applied Nursing Research
Volume 18, Issue 3 , Pages 155-159, August 2005

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