A nurse’s priority during admission and discharge is to provide safe and high-quality care to the patient while adhering to hospital policies and protocols.  How can virtual nursing impact the process?

Patient Admissions

Emergency rooms are bogged down daily with emergency department (ED) holds, or patients who are admitted and waiting for a bed to become available. What would happen if a virtual nurse could start the admission process while patients were waiting for a bed?

The time it takes a nurse to admit a patient can vary depending on several factors, including:

• Complexity of the patient

• Experience of the nurse

• Staffing levels

• Admission protocols

• The presence of family members

In cases where patients are admitted through the ED or have urgent medical needs, the admission process may be expedited.

Conversely, for elective admissions or when patients are stable, the process may take longer to ensure comprehensive assessment and documentation are completed.

Virtual nurses can begin the admission process anywhere, at any time. They can start and complete the electronic health record (EHR) documentation, perform medication reconciliations, perform a virtual assessment of the patient and initiate the education process.

This process can save the floor nurse up to hours, which can be used to attend to other patient care needs.

Patient Discharges

Discharges can be long and tedious, often due to delays in starting the discharge process. We have all heard discharges start on admission.

What would happen if a virtual nurse could start the discharge process during the patient’s stay and complete the discharge quickly and efficiently once an order has been received? 

The discharge process involves several steps, and the time it takes to discharge a patient from the hospital can vary widely depending on several factors, including:

• The patient’s medical condition

• Hospital policies and procedures

• Availability of resources

• Complexity of the discharge plan

Hospitals aim to streamline the discharge process to ensure it is efficient while also providing patients and their families with the necessary information and support for a safe transition from the hospital to home, or another care setting.

Virtual nursing gives the patient and family the discharge experience needed to prevent readmissions and gives time back to the bedside nurse to address other patient care needs. 

The Future of Virtual Nursing Is Here

Now, imagine if we expanded the virtual visit beyond nursing. Pharmacists and case managers may also assist in the discharge process, allowing for medication, education and family discussions to assist with discharges beyond the home — and this is just the beginning.

Vitalchat’s tailored virtual nursing solutions are designed to improve patient experiences while helping providers avoid burnout.

The result? Higher throughput and higher-quality care delivery throughout the length of stay that enhances satisfaction for nurses and patients alike.

Watch or request a demo to see what’s possible for your hospital.