Crossing the caring chasm

We are experiencing unprecedented change in our health systems. The growing ageing and co-morbid profile of health service users creates a range of challenges around how health systems construct more integrated processes to support recovery to health and provide care. While there is an emphasis upon prevention and screening, the trend will continue to be around providing care and support for individuals, families and communities for chronic and life-style induced diseases. The emphasis will therefore be on the need for evidence-based care as much as evidence-based medicine (or cure). By definition, patients with chronic conditions cannot be cured; this means their fundamental care needs are at the centre of their course of care and hence, nursing (Henderson 1966). This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.