The primary care physician's role in nursing facility care

The purpose of this article is to help physicians who care for nursing facility residents understand their role as care providers in the nursing facility setting. As more care is shifted from the acute care hospital and other sites to nursing facilities, and as the complexity of nursing facility care increases, more is expected of attending physicians. Physicians must structure visits to address patient and family needs and staff concerns; review resident assessment instruments, care plans, and orders for care; and carefully document and code visits to improve the overall care provided to the patient and to assist payers and regulators to have a better understanding of the patient's situation and future plans and expectations.