Nurse practitioner-staffed clinic at Virginia Mason improves care and lowers costs for women with benign breast conditions.

The implementation of a breast clinic based on the use of an advanced registered nurse practitioner at Virginia Mason Medical Center in Seattle, Washington, substantially improved care timeliness and efficiency for women with symptomatic benign breast conditions. Women received their final benign diagnosis in an average of four rather than sixteen days, with fewer imaging studies and physician visits, when compared to a control group. Savings to the employer were estimated at $316 per woman, primarily from increased work productivity. Direct care costs decreased an estimated 19 percent, to $213 per woman. By decreasing both direct medical costs and indirect costs such as work absenteeism and presenteeism, the Virginia Mason Breast Clinic has created substantial savings for providers and employers while delivering care that patients rate highly. This model demonstrates the feasibility of achieving higher quality at lower cost through integrated care.