Revolutionizing Patient Care with Telehealth Nursing

Telehealth is more accessible than ever before. Medical facilities today have robust IT infrastructures, making it easy for patients to get their medical questions answered via video chat, phone, or email. However, telehealth doesn’t always have to involve talking to a doctor— many questions can be resolved by speaking with a nurse. 

Patient care has changed a lot over the last few years, in large part thanks to the expansion of telehealth. Here’s how telehealth nursing is helping to revolutionize patient care and make medical advice much more accessible.

Understanding the Concept of Telehealth Nursing

Telehealth nursing is simply nursing care that’s delivered remotely. Instead of needing to be in the same physical location as the patient, a skilled nurse can connect virtually to provide medical advice, answer questions, and help to determine if the individual patient needs to be seen in person. While not all medical needs can be resolved using telehealth, these remote care options are cutting down on the number of traditional visits that are needed to keep patients healthy. 

In many cases, telehealth is used when people aren’t sure if they need to go into the doctor’s office for an exam or for treatment. By reaching out to a nurse via telehealth, they can get triaged without having to leave home.  Telehealth is also a go-to option for ongoing patient monitoring. 

Telehealth can be used to get a remote diagnosis for minor ailments and recommendations for home remedies or over-the-counter medications. Nurses can also work with doctors to provide prescriptions for certain common health problems over the phone. 

The concept of telehealth is simple and effective, but it wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic that more healthcare facilities and health insurance providers began to offer and support it more widely. Today, more and more visits are being conducted remotely due to the many benefits it offers. 

Benefits of Telehealth Nursing

Telehealth offers many benefits to patients, providers, and even insurers. Many patients prefer to have most of their appointments take place online as well. According to one 2022 survey, 94% of patients who used telehealth services were interested in using them in the future. 

Telehealth nursing provides a range of benefits, such as: 

• Convenience— patients don’t have to leave the comfort of home if they have a medical question or aren’t sure if they need to go to the doctor. Sometimes, they can even get a complete treatment plan over the phone, avoiding a doctor’s visit altogether. 
• Shorter wait times— patients can get the answers they need quickly without having to wait for an appointment. This means less anxiety and quicker symptom relief.  
• Fewer delays in treatment— patients are more likely to be proactive in seeking treatment via a telehealth nurse line. This means that they are able to treat their illnesses more quickly, often avoiding complications and the need for invasive procedures. Overall, this leads to better outcomes and overall health. 
• Enhanced personalization— healthcare providers can use electronic patient records to make personalized recommendations remotely instead of patients turning to sources like WebMD. Telehealth also makes collaborations among providers much simpler. 
• Reduces appointment delays— Nurses save time using telehealth and are less likely to fall behind during the day. 
• Streamlines monitoring for chronic conditions— patients can consult with a nurse remotely rather than needing to go in for every follow-up visit. It also makes following up with patients easier for nurses.
• Better preventative care— when people can discuss health topics with nurses remotely, they are more likely to engage in lifestyle choices that enhance health and well-being. 
• Lower costs— telehealth visits are cheaper than in-office visits, which benefits both patients and insurance companies. 
• Increase access to healthcare— one of the biggest benefits of telehealth is its ability to expand care access. Many people, especially those living in rural areas, now have much better access to the care they need, helping to reduce health disparities. 

Mental Health Support via Telehealth Nursing

Since the pandemic, many mental health support services have moved online— to the point that many providers no longer offer in-person services. Nurses who specialize in mental health and psychiatric care often prefer to conduct their appointments online for everyone’s convenience and comfort. 

The expansion of mental health services via telehealth is revolutionizing this type of care. More people are able to seek the services they need, which helps to break down stereotypes and stigmas. With many nurses and other providers offering telehealth support, our communities are better able to maintain their mental health and well-being. 

Better Health, More Independence, Fewer Frustrations

Telehealth offers patients the opportunity to maintain their health more easily and worry less about small problems that come up in their daily lives. People who need ongoing monitoring for chronic health conditions can enjoy more independence via wearable devices, remote monitoring, and telehealth visits. People of all ages can get ongoing help for mental health concerns or easily reach a provider when they’re in crisis. 

While telehealth has its limitations (some issues definitely need to be diagnosed and treated in person!), it is truly revolutionizing the ways that nurses can provide care to patients. Healthcare organizations need to be vigilant in maintaining patients’ privacy through cybersecurity and training to ensure that telehealth is secure and protects patients’ sensitive data. 

Now that telehealth has grown in popularity, we are seeing how it can be integrated into nursing care plans. Instead of focusing on reactive care, today’s healthcare delivery is increasingly focused on personalized, preventative medicine that helps people build and maintain good health and overall quality of life.