Two big challenges for expanding virtual nursing are staffing shortages and cost, says this nurse informatics leader.
Making progress towards a virtual nursing goal is not without its trials and tribulations.
While health systems might want to take giant leaps and bounds forward, it's more likely that progress will happen slowly and methodically.
Clair Lunt, chief nursing informatics officer and senior director of nursing informatics at Mount Sinai Health system, recently gave HealthLeaders an update on the health system’s virtual nursing progress over the past year.
Clair is part of the HealthLeaders Virtual Nursing Mastermind program, which brings together several health systems to discuss the ins and outs of their virtual nursing programs and what their goals are now and for the future.
From then to now
At the beginning of the Virtual Nursing Mastermind program in 2024, Clair told HealthLeaders that the purpose of virtual nursing at Mount Sinai is primarily addressing the documentation burden nurses carry by having the virtual nurses complete the admission and discharge documentation and patient education. Since then, Clair said the program remains on track.
"Our program has remained in status quo over the past year," Clair said. "We are looking into expanding the tasks to include drop-in rounds."
The health system uses high-resolution cameras that are placed above TVs in the patients' rooms. The next step is to expand the technology to other areas.
"We are investigating how to use the service in non-conventional areas like observation units," Clair said.
Building on the foundation
Right now, Clair said the biggest challenges to the growth of the virtual nursing program are staffing and the cost.
"Staffing shortages on the units [are making] it difficult to create an in-house solution, so we use a third-party vendor to supply the virtual nursing staff" Clair said.
Discussions about expansion beyond the hospital have also not taken place, but Clair anticipates that they will in the future.
Clair also reported that the nurses have really embraced the program and that they have provided good feedback. In terms of hard ROI, the health system tracks several metrics.
"We are using metrics related to number of admissions, discharges, and education sessions completed by the virtual nurse," Clair said.
The HealthLeaders Mastermind series is an exclusive series of calls and events with healthcare executives. This Virtual Nursing Mastermind series features ideas, solutions, and insights on excelling your virtual nursing program. Please join the community at our LinkedIn page.
To inquire about participating in an upcoming Mastermind series or attending a HealthLeaders Exchange event, email us at exchange@healthleadersmedia.com.
G Hatfield is the CNO editor for HealthLeaders.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Mount Sinai remains on track with their goals to improve admission and discharge documentation and patient education with virtual nursing.
The health system has received positive feedback from nurses in the program and they continue to measure admissions, discharges, and education sessions completed by the virtual nurse as ROI metrics.