The on-demand webinar “Bridging IT and Clinical Worlds for Virtual Nursing Success,” hosted by the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME), features insights from Lee Health’s System Director of Virtual Health and Telemedicine, Jon Witenko, Business Analyst Kimberly Gualt, and Caregility’s President and COO, Mike Brandofino. They discuss their experience implementing and scaling virtual nursing and the collaborative strategies necessary to ensure success.
Key Themes and Takeaways:
1. Cultivating Clinical and IT Alignment
- Successful virtual nursing programs hinge on strong collaboration between IT and clinical teams.
- The speakers stress the importance of mutual understanding, where IT appreciates the nuances of clinical workflows, and clinicians understand the technological capabilities and constraints.
2. Addressing Implementation Challenges
- Common hurdles include resistance to change, technical barriers, and scalability concerns.
- The session highlights lessons learned from overcoming these barriers, emphasizing the importance of phased rollouts and continuous feedback loops.
3. Seamless Clinical Workflow Integration
- Integration is key to preventing disruption in day-to-day care delivery.
- The discussion underscores designing solutions that complement, rather than complicate, existing workflows, ensuring minimal disruption to bedside care.
4. Virtual Nurse Training Strategies
- Preparing nurses to adopt virtual care roles is essential.
- Lee Health shares strategies for equipping virtual nurses with the skills to engage patients effectively through technology while maintaining empathy and clinical excellence.
5. Patient Impact
- The program demonstrates measurable benefits for patients, including enhanced monitoring, reduced response times, and improved access to care.
- The panelists emphasize maintaining the human touch even in a technology-driven model to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes.
6. Staff Reception
- Ensuring team-wide support is a critical component of success.
- The discussion touches on addressing skepticism, demonstrating the value of virtual nursing, and involving staff early in the process.
7. Evolving Role of Virtual Nursing
- Virtual nursing is a scalable, cost-effective solution to address workforce shortages and rising patient acuity.
- The conversation speculates on how the role might evolve with advancements in AI and telehealth technology, moving toward more proactive and preventive care models.
Insights for Healthcare Professionals
The on-demand webinar provides actionable insights, including:
- Creating alignment frameworks to bring IT and clinical teams together.
- Adopting an iterative approach to tech deployment, allowing for adjustments based on real-world use.
- Leveraging metrics and data to measure success and identify areas for improvement.
This session ultimately highlights how fostering collaboration, planning for adaptability, and prioritizing patient and staff experiences are critical for achieving sustainable success in virtual nursing programs.
Watch the full on-demand webinar here:
Bridging IT and Clinical Worlds for Virtual Nursing Success
