Telehealth is the use of telecommunications technology to collect, transmit, and communicate health data between providers and patients. This allows patients to receive care from a distance, no matter where they are. According to Frey and Chiu (2021), telehealth can be used in four ways: synchronous or live video, store-and-forward, remote patient monitoring, and mobile health (mHealth) (mobile health). Synchronous or live video allows a doctor and a patient to communicate in real time.
When a provider obtains information and a patient’s history, it stores it and then makes it available to another provider via a secure platform. Remote patient monitoring entails using digital or electronic tools to record a patient’s health information, such as blood sugar and blood pressure, which is then automatically transmitted to a provider for review. The use of mobile devices such as cell phones, tablets, personal digital assistants, and wireless infrastructure to aid in medicine and public health is known as mobile health (Innovatemedtec, 2021).
Doctors, nurses, physical therapists, and other healthcare professionals communicate with their patients via virtual care. It is the patient’s genuine virtual visit with the healthcare team (MD, nurse, PT, etc.). Virtual care requires communication tools such as video, chat, or the phone. This allows patients to receive high-quality care when they need it the most (Synzi, 2018).
When patients’ care needs to be coordinated, telehealth can be useful. For example, surgery patients who require care both before and after the procedure. Nurses can contact patients by e-mail, video conferencing, or phone to schedule appointments, teach patients what to do after surgery, or check in on how they’re doing once they’ve been discharged. According to McGonigle and Mastrian (2017), a nurse may organize and carry out 12-16 telehealth visits with virtual care, whereas a regular home health care nurse can only complete 7 visits.
A disadvantage of telemedicine is that a nurse cannot perform a thorough physical examination. There may be instances when a full physical exam must be performed by hand, which requires the patient to come to the office or a nurse to come to the patient’s house. Telehealth appointments may potentially be impacted by the necessity to collect blood or perform imaging tests on the patient, as well as technological issues.NUR 514 Topic 8 DQ 2 Discuss some benefits and drawbacks of virtual care/telehealth particularly related to the collaboration and coordination of care and the role of the advanced registered nurse
Nurses need to be mindful of HIPPA regulations and remember they can only treat patients within the state they are licensed in when participating in telehealth (Frey & Chiu, 2021).NUR 514 Topic 8 DQ 2 Discuss some benefits and drawbacks of virtual care/telehealth particularly related to the collaboration and coordination of care and the role of the advanced registered nurse
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