Introduction:

Half a decade ago, doctors’ visiting home for patients was common. Fast forward to 2021, where doctors don’t visit, but their care services reach patients at home. That’s Telemedicine, also known as telehealth. Today, all successful healthcare management experts agree to the benefits of Telemedicine. Like other technological solutions like electronic health records or medical informatics, Telemedicine is also helping both physicians and nurses.   

Telemedicine in nursing allows nurses to deliver virtual care to isolated patients. Since the pandemic, the U.S has been facing shortages of nurses and doctors. And Telemedicine in nursing is offering immediate support to ensure constant health access. Telemedicine provides a plethora of benefits to the patients, but nurses also benefit.   

Nursing services aren’t limited to hospitals, private clinics, or community centers. Home care centers and behavioral clinics also include nursing. Moreover, the rising geriatric population also indicates the need for nursing services. And the best way to offer patients easy access to healthcare is through Telemedicine. Nursing services specific for chronic conditions are best for Telemedicine. It allows nurses and patients to consistently track the vitals and other markers to maintain the patients’ health. That means it improves health accessibility.   

So, if you’re interested in improving your nursing service and wishing to offer better health access, adopt advanced Telemedicine. Here’s everything you need to know about Telemedicine in nursing homes.   

How is Telemedicine benefiting nursing?

Today, telehealth solutions are growing, and healthcare providers are pretty keen on adopting these services. Many integrated healthcare solutions incorporate telehealth in their range of services. In nursing, telemedicine solutions offer a myriad of benefits, which are-   

1. Educating the elderly about Telemedicine

Telehealth in nursing isn’t just care delivery but includes other support services. The senior population, who aren’t well-versed with technology, requires support from care nurses. Telehealth apps or software that works as a communicative tool enables nurses to explain and educate older people about using a telehealth platform. Moreover, Telemedicine in nursing also allows nurses to give attention to their queries from Time to Time.

2. Not bound to one depart, explore more areas

Nurses working on location, at a hospital or clinic are too busy to explore other healthcare areas. Telehealth nurses can learn state-of-art therapies in care delivery. This will allow them to grow and learn more.

3. Build a better relationship with patients

Telemedicine in nursing improves the patient-provider relationship. Nurses get more Time with patients and can support without any formal hospital rules. Patients get help for diseases and mental support for trauma related to the disease.

4. More flexibility in work

Nurses often reported feeling overburdened with work. Reports highlighted that nurse are also willing to quit the field due to excessive pressure. However, telehealth solutions give more flexibility to nurses. Nurses in Telemedicine will have a work-life balance too.

5. Quicker Health Access

Quicker health access is one of the most important benefits of Telemedicine in nursing. In traditional nursing, nurses had to wait to deliver care per schedule. This led to a decline in patient satisfaction. However, with telemedicine solutions, nurses can assure quicker health access and better patient experience.

Challenges in Telemedicine in Nursing

Telemedicine in nursing also helps in improving population health management and patient engagement systems. But some challenges affect telehealth nursing. The adoption of Telemedicine in nursing has several roadblocks that nursing centers must eliminate.   

1. Lack of Tech Knowledge

In the U.S, the population of baby boomers is increasing. And the use of advanced telemedicine solutions has the potential to keep track of the elderly populations’ health. But the main barrier is the lack of smartphones accessibility. Senior patients have smartphones, but they aren’t tech-savvy enough to control telehealth apps or software.

2. Reimbursements constraints

Another barrier that many nursing centers interested in Telemedicine are concerned about is reimbursement constraints. Reimbursement issues in telehealth nursing led to revenue loss. The nursing center might end in losses, and expenses will increase to tackle this issue. So, health leaders suggest opting for a vendor who can customize their telehealth nursing app/software. Besides, nursing providers must ensure that their telehealth services are HIPAA compliant solutions to avoid such issues.

3. Lack of training

Nurses in Telemedicine require proper education and training on handling the telehealth system. If nurses aren’t tech-savvy, delivering care virtually is impossible. So, the nursing provider needs to train and educate nurses to improve their telehealth nursing. Apart from care delivery, managing other tasks in telemedicine apps also requires training, especially in electronic data exchange or medical records management.

4. Licensing issues

Nursing centers adopting Telemedicine often fear licensing problems. Telehealth apps and software must comply with HIPAA or other regulatory policies to ensure its validity. And failure in licensing is a big step back in adopting Telemedicine in nursing. Even every practice management adopting such virtual care solutions must comply with these regulations.

Telemedicine in nursing is a little different from regular healthcare delivery. In nursing, it’s more about regular tracking and supportive care. Chronic, post-surgical patients, senior people, or behavioral health patients-nursing support. Moreover, this nursing care must be easily accessible searching for quality. 

How Does Telemedicine in Nursing Improve Health Access

RNs and scheduling appointments impose problems in getting easy health access. However, Telemedicine in nursing is the silver lining to these problems. With multiple benefits, Telemedicine in nursing care also improves health access and overall patient experience.   

1. Special Care to Chronic Patients

Chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension requires constant tracking of body vitals. And Telemedicine in nursing can manage this in chronic patients. Nurses and chronic patients can interact at their convenience. Moreover, alongside advanced Telemedicine, nursing providers can also invest in integrated healthcare solutions to enhance their quality of care.

2. Faster Access to Care

Telehealth software systems in nursing makes access to quality care in no time. Telemedicine apps are the mode that allows patients to connect with nursing care anytime. Faster access to care means speedier recovery and better patient experience. These telehealth apps help patients find suitable nurses every Time they need one through healthcare automation solutions.

3. Critically-ill patients stay risk-free

Patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s require constant attention. These critically-ill patients can get timely and regular care with telehealth nursing practice. Moreover, nurses need to ensure that their patient health records are managed well for these patients. Nursing providers can utilize healthcare analytics solutions or healthcare interoperability to share and track patient data. This data will aid in the patient’s future care.

4. Saves Time and offers flexibility

Of all benefits that improve health access, advanced telehealth solutions in nursing save Time for both entities. Patients need not travel to the nursing center or wait for the nurse visit. Just one video call and patients get access to care in no time. Besides, patients also get flexibility in choosing their nursing care services. All these boost health accessibilities.

5. Cheaper for patients

Care cost is a big aspect for patients. Some patients can’t afford adequate nursing care due to financial constraints. But telehealth apps can change this. Telehealth nursing services will cost less than traditional visits. And this indicates that Telemedicine in nursing improves health access.

Conclusion

Telemedicine in nursing is still gaining momentum among the industry leaders. Nursing centers, especially those serving senior care centers or regularly attending elderly/chronic patients, need telenursing. However, nursing providers must also understand its organizational challenges before adopting telehealth nursing. Besides, telemedicine software development for nursing assures plenty of benefits for both entities. But the biggest pro that Telemedicine in nursing offers is easy and better health access.   

OSP is a trusted healthcare software development company that delivers bespoke solutions as per your business needs. Connect with us to hire the best talents in the industry to build enterprise-grade software.

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