Bridging Borders: Bringing Virtual Nursing Across the Globe

Welcome to Digital Health Frontiers, where we explore the cutting edge of healthcare technology, policy, and innovation, In this episode we go global with a spotlight on Australia, with ways that New South Wales and Queensland can prepare for the next evolution of connected, scalable care. Join Nikolas Rorris, CEO of Mod3rn Care and Mike Brandofino, President and COO of Caregility as they unpack the need for clinical workforce innovation and the power of AI-enabled virtual care in the US and abroad.

Nickolas Rorris: Welcome to the Caregility Podcast, where we explore how virtual care is transforming healthcare delivery around the world. I’m Nickolas Rorris, CEO of Mod3rn Care, the distributor of Caregility’s Connected Care solution across Australia and New Zealand. Today I’m joined by Mike Brandofino, President and COO of Caregility — the world’s leading Connected Care platform. Welcome, Mike.

Mike Brandofino: Thanks for having me, Nickolas. Glad to be here.

Nickolas Rorris: We’re going to discuss how virtual nursing is redefining hospital care and empowering nurses everywhere. Across Australia, both our public and private systems face many of the same challenges as in the U.S. — workforce shortages, rising patient demand, and the need to deliver safe, consistent care anywhere, anytime. Let’s start by setting the scene. How is virtual nursing positioned in the U.S. compared with Australia, and what differences in funding models, workforce pressures, and digital maturity shape adoption in each market?

Mike Brandofino: Virtual nursing in the U.S. really began with tele-ICU programs, which helped nurses grow comfortable with the technology. As the model expanded to other workflows, adoption accelerated. Having nurses deeply involved from the beginning was crucial. The first hire I made at Caregility was a Chief Nursing Officer, ensuring we built the platform around the nurse’s experience. Our focus has always been on helping nurses “practice at the top of their license” — dedicating more hours to direct care by removing time-consuming administrative tasks.

Nickolas Rorris: Australia’s healthcare systems share similar challenges — fewer nurses, rising complexity, and large geographic distances. Let’s talk about how Caregility supports different nursing workflows beyond basic telehealth video calls.

Mike Brandofino: Exactly. Basic video conferencing is a commodity, but Caregility’s value is in workflow design. We build tools that support real nursing use cases — from continuous observation to admissions, rounding, and discharge. For instance, if a sitter watching a fall-risk patient goes on break, the system can seamlessly transfer monitoring to another nurse without losing visibility. That kind of reliability and flexibility is what nurses need.

Nickolas Rorris: You’ve mentioned some strong outcomes — reduced discharge times, higher patient satisfaction, and even ROI for hospitals. What’s driving that?

Mike Brandofino: Virtual discharges are a great example. Virtual nurses can handle education and paperwork, freeing bedside nurses to focus on acute patients. Hospitals see faster bed turnover, improved satisfaction scores, and higher staff morale. Plus, virtual nursing extends the careers of experienced nurses who can’t work the floor anymore but still have invaluable expertise to share.

Nickolas Rorris: And continuous observation — that’s a major innovation. What AI capabilities are enhancing this?

Mike Brandofino: AI is a huge part of it. Beyond video and audio, we use ambient sensors to detect duress, aggression, or distress through tone of voice or motion. Radar devices detect falls or occupancy in bathrooms, where cameras aren’t allowed. Contactless vitals sensors can track respiration and temperature without wearables — a major benefit for elderly or culturally sensitive patients. We’re also piloting “agentic AI” — virtual assistants that can perform tasks like pain assessments automatically, further extending what nurses can do.

Nickolas Rorris: Australia’s large health systems — NSW Health, Queensland Health, and Victoria Health — as well as major private providers like Ramsay Health, Healthscope, and St. Vincent’s, are all under pressure to scale efficiently. Why is enterprise scalability so essential for virtual care platforms?

Mike Brandofino: Health systems aren’t IT companies, so reliability and simplicity are key. Our platform continuously monitors every device 24/7, allowing remote management and calibration without disrupting patient care. It’s self-healing and highly secure — DoD-certified, ISO-compliant, and remotely updatable. Some of our first installations have been running for eight years and still receive the latest firmware updates. And integration matters. Caregility was one of the first to integrate with Epic’s CAL, eCAL, and EpicTV tools. Customers can launch calls directly from Epic, receive alerts, and control cameras without switching systems.

Nickolas Rorris: That seamless integration keeps nurses focused and minimizes distractions — no switching between apps. Let’s move to geography. In Australia, our smaller population and vast distances make staff distribution a challenge. How is virtual nursing reshaping workforce models?

Mike Brandofino: In the U.S., centralized nursing hubs have become the norm. Experienced nurses in one location can support multiple hospitals or rural clinics through connected care. This approach ensures 24/7 coverage and extends reach into underserved areas. The same model can absolutely work in Australia.

Nickolas Rorris: And what about compliance and uptime in different regions?

Mike Brandofino: We’re committed to meeting local standards. Our devices are FDA Class I certified, ISO compliant, and meet HIPAA and GDPR standards. As we expand, we’ll certify to Australian data sovereignty and security requirements. Caregility’s uptime exceeds SLA targets, and we’ve completed 55 consecutive releases without interrupting service — something we’re very proud of.

Nickolas Rorris: Incredible. One of the biggest concerns for nurses here is that virtual nursing might replace bedside roles. How did U.S. hospitals address that?

Mike Brandofino: That’s a common misconception. One of our customers analyzed all nursing tasks and found they were 130% oversubscribed. Virtual nursing helps reclaim that 30% gap — by reducing documentation time and automating low-skill tasks like sitting or discharge paperwork. It’s about giving nurses back “care minutes” — more time for meaningful patient interaction. And ironically, virtual nurses often make care feel more personal. Patients report higher satisfaction because they get eye contact and undivided attention. One of my favorite stories is about a virtual nurse who, after hearing a patient receive bad news, drove to the hospital to comfort them in person. That shows it’s not about replacing nurses — it’s about empowering them.

Nickolas Rorris: That’s powerful. In Australia, we need to emphasize that this model enhances care, adding minutes back to patient time and strengthening teams.

Mike Brandofino: Exactly. Success starts with collaboration — involving nurses from the start and identifying the workflows that save the most time. Once they experience early wins like virtual discharge or mentoring, adoption spreads quickly. Every minute saved helps nurses focus on what matters most: patient care.

Nickolas Rorris: Mike, thank you for sharing these insights. For healthcare leaders across Australia and New Zealand, now is the time to explore connected care models that extend reach, improve efficiency, and enhance patient experience. To learn more, visit mod3rncare.com and join us in shaping the future of connected healthcare.

Mike Brandofino: Thanks for having me, Nickolas. Looking forward to the partnership.