Wearables help patients take an active role in their care and understand, in real time, the effects of their behaviors. Likewise, automatically generated data and analysis help nursing teams intervene more quickly, according to the The Journal for Nurse Practitioners.
This has proven particularly important as healthcare teams monitor discharged COVID-19 patients for signs of trouble as they recover.
3. Telehealth Platforms Enable Secure Connections from Anywhere
Telehealth solutions allow nurses to expand their reach and care for low-acuity patients without potentially exposing anyone to COVID-19.
It’s also aiding critical cases: Many hospitals have explored tele-ICU applications during the pandemic, according to MIT Technology Review. High-definition cameras, telemetry and a multidisciplinary team of intensivists give nurses the ability to remotely monitor ICU patients, regardless of where they are.
Falls Village Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, has used telehealth applications to reduce rehospitalization rates, according to mHealthIntelligence. Previously, nurses had to wait on an off-duty doctor to respond when they saw a patient in decline; the new telehealth system can access a doctor in less than an hour.
“Nurses very much appreciate the fact that they have dedicated access to a physician on those off-hours,” says Falls Village administrator Nick Gulich. Additionally, “it boosts their assessment skills. They know what to look for a bit better. It has boosted their confidence.”
4. Mobile Workstations Offer More Seamless Care
While nurses have long used wheeled care cars and portable monitors, these devices are becoming smaller, smarter and more capable. These machines mobilize equipment, medicines and health records for nurses to access at the patient’s bedside.
And the new carts are lightweight, economic and more easily maneuverable, according to a 2019 case study in the Journal of Clinical Engineering.
“Already overloaded as it is, nurses seek ways to eliminate steps in the workflow, not add more. When they can deliver seamless care, interacting easily at the patient’s bedside, it enhances the hospital environment,” the case study notes.