The Future of Telehealth and Nursing

There’s no question about it — telehealth is quickly becoming an industry standard rather than an added option. Medical institutions across the country are discovering the array of benefits telehealth nursing provides and are incorporating the practice into their operations as quickly as possible.

While telehealth has been around for decades, it has made leaps and bounds in recent years as patients and providers have embraced the service’s potential to improve healthcare. Through a variety of telehealth platforms, patients now have access to high-quality care from the comfort of their own homes — an experience that has proved invaluable during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to the safety telehealth provides during these uncertain times, it also offers convenience. Long workdays, family obligations, meal preparation, and more combine to make the modern American’s schedule more hectic than ever before.

For many, the ability to avoid trips to the doctor’s office and long waiting room lines is highly attractive. It’s also cost-effective, as fewer scheduling inefficiencies and staffing roadblocks lead to cost savings for providers and patients alike. Together, these factors have further propelled the popularity of telehealth in the 21st century.

Given the promising future of telehealth nursing, many healthcare professionals are jumping in headfirst and eagerly asking what telehealth certification looks like for nurses.

What is Telehealth Nursing?

Telehealth nursing is a method of delivering care remotely using technology, including mobile devices, tablets, and computers. Sophisticated telehealth encompasses more than digital appointment reminders and confirmations — it is a way to offer real healthcare assistance and support from a distance.

While a nurse’s role in telehealth varies depending on position, it’s similar to the role the nurse plays during in-person visits — providing patients with care, education, and counseling during times of need.

The basic definition of telehealth nursing is straightforward, yet the practice has evolved significantly over time. Traditionally conducted solely within the realms of independent entities, telehealth nursing has blossomed into an extension of many healthcare plans, hospitals, and clinics over the last 20 years.

Telehealth nursing is often an integral part of large acute care institutions, serving as an intermediary step in which nurses assess a patient’s condition and determine if an in-person visit is necessary. Healthcare professionals may also use remote nursing sessions to diagnose lower-risk conditions, outline treatment options, educate patients about self-care at home, and more.

Adoption of Telehealth and Nursing

Given all the benefits of telehealth nursing for both patients and providers — convenience, high-quality care, faster results, etc. — it’s no surprise that the future looks bright for telehealth nursing. As technology advances, patients’ comfort with virtual patient-clinician communication tends to increase, and with institutions like Stanford Children’s Hospital more than doubling their number of telehealth appointments, it seems unlikely that telehealth nursing is going away any time soon.

But the expected growth of telehealth nursing doesn’t just mean more opportunities for quality care — it also signals large-scale transformation and new opportunities for the medical field. According to the …read more

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