PURPOSE: Academic service partnerships are critical for schools of nursing to maintain credibility regarding their missions of education, research, service, and practice. METHODS: In this paper, we describe a case study of a ten year program, the Living Independently For Elders (LIFE) Program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing that has provided community-based long-term care to high-risk older adults. FINDINGS: Quality of care and financial outcomes were met with nurse faculty engagement, administrative commitment, and integration of business practices. CONCLUSIONS: As a result, high risk older adults receive care in their communities rather than nursing homes, and the school- owned and -operated program is a nationally recognized innovative nursing model of care. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Strategies are described that can be used globally as more schools of nursing embrace and strengthen service partnerships.
PURPOSE: Academic service partnerships are critical for schools of nursing to maintain credibility regarding their missions of education, research, service, and practice. METHODS: In this paper, we describe a case study of a ten year program, the Living Independently For Elders (LIFE) Program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing that has provided community-based long-term care to high-risk older adults. FINDINGS: Quality of care and financial outcomes were met with nurse faculty engagement, administrative commitment, and integration of business practices. CONCLUSIONS: As a result, high risk older adults receive care in their communities rather than nursing homes, and the school- owned and -operated program is a nationally recognized innovative nursing model of care. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Strategies are described that can be used globally as more schools of nursing embrace and strengthen service partnerships.