Owensboro Health Regional Hospital has recently launched an innovative virtual nursing program in the Ortho-Neuro and Pulmonology Units. This program utilizes technology to enhance patient care by incorporating an onsite, hospital-employed virtual nurse into the care team. The virtual nurse serves as an additional resource to help patients by answering questions, addressing concerns, providing education and promoting safety.
The virtual nursing model enhances patient care by providing additional support to the primary nursing team. They act as a second set of eyes for patients, assisting the primary nurse in delivering exceptional care and completing various patient care activities. To become a VN (virtual nurse) at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital, nurses must have a specific level of experience in bedside nursing and undergo specialized Epic training and gain access to the necessary tools to carry out their assigned duties effectively.
VNs communicate with patients via a camera in their room and the television. Cameras have been installed in patient rooms in the Ortho-Neuro and Pulmonology Units to launch the program. When the VN initiates a call, patients will receive a notification on their TV, prompting them to converse. Patients can rest assured that the camera is not constantly monitoring their room; it only activates when there is a call from the virtual nurse, indicated by a visible light on the camera.
In emergencies, the virtual nurse is crucial in alerting the primary nurse about any potential deterioration in a patient's condition. Through virtual sessions on camera, the VN can provide clinical information, take notes, document with narrators, contact physicians, or help arrange necessary interventions. Physicians should expect to see the VN conducting virtual sessions with patients on TV screens and may be contacted for essential updates or emergencies.
Nicole Duncan, Manager of Patient Care Services, said bedside nurses have assisted in identifying tasks that would be most helpful if completed by a VN. “Nurses often report that a significant amount of time is spent searching for another nurse to assist with co-verification processes,” she said. “With the push of a button in the room, the primary nurse can send a notification to the virtual nurse that assistance is needed and the virtual nurse can launch a session into the room to assist as a co-verifier.” She added that processes are being designed to make it easy for the primary nurse to request assistance when needed, giving the primary nurse more time at the bedside to focus on patient care activities that require hands-on the patient.
The VN works on-site at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital in a dedicated bunker, ready to support the primary nursing team. Communication between the primary nurse and the VN varies based on the urgency of the information, with options including phone calls or secure chat messaging. The VN is available to assist with admission and discharge processes, provide mentoring, participate in double verification instances, implement Best Practice Alerts (BPA’s), offer patient education and conduct specific reassessments. The VN service is an integral part of the patient care team, working alongside primary nurses and nursing assistants to ensure comprehensive care for patients at Owensboro Health Regional Hospital.
“Virtual nursing represents a transformative alternate care model that harnesses the power of technology to deliver care remotely,” Joni Sims, Vice President of Patient Care Services & CNO said. “As a care model, virtual nursing serves as an incredible supplement to the traditional care team approach. As we eagerly move forward with virtual nursing, we are excited about the potential to improve care, enhance satisfaction, optimize resources and provide support to our frontline teams.”
This new virtual nursing service exemplifies Owensboro Health Regional Hospital's commitment to leveraging technology to improve patient outcomes and overall healthcare experience.
