Creating a professional practice model for postacute care: adapting the Chronic Care Model for long-term care.

The Chronic Care Model (CCM), a patient-centered model for primary medical care, was adapted as a professional practice model for nursing in postacute care. The development and implementation of the middle range theory is presented. The CCM uses six constructs: community, health care system, self-management, delivery system design, decision support, and clinical information system. We added definitions of the resident and nurse. Lewin's Change Theory was used to implement the new theory. The Jewish Geriatric Services CCM is a professional practice model that has stimulated improvements in care delivery, which will be reflected in resident outcomes.