Stakeholders and Agents of Change
The people affected by the proposed program will include:
- Registered nurses: improved quality of provided healthcare services, improved relationships with patients, enhanced cross-functional collaboration, empowerment.
- Advanced nurse practitioners: less workload, improved quality of provided care, enhanced job satisfaction.
- Patients: patient-centered care, improved quality of healthcare services, enhanced patient satisfaction, wider access to quality care.
- Healthcare facility: improved quality of services, increased cost-effectiveness, broader coverage of patients, better overall performance.
- Health Insurance Entities: potentially lower spending on provided healthcare services.
- Nursing associations: evidence-based improvement for ANPs and RNs, improved image of the practice.
- Joint commissions: fewer medical errors due to better working atmosphere and decreased workload, as well as interprofessional collaboration.
- Medical staff: improved collaboration, potentially viable strategy to use in other areas.
Feasibility
The involvement of registered nurses in telehealth services provision has been associated with multiple positive outcomes for the medical staff, patients, and healthcare facilities. The provision of telehealth services is associated with improved medication adherence and symptom control, increased patient outcomes, and satisfaction (Asiri et al., 2018). One of the central effects is a larger patient coverage as more patients can access high-quality care. In addition to wider access to quality care, the inclusion of registered nurses leads to their empowerment and professional growth (Watkins & Neubrander, 2020). Nurses develop skills and knowledge, as well as confidence when providing services through telehealth platforms (Honey & Wright, 2018). The overall performance of the facility improves due to the improved interprofessional collaboration. The wider participation of registered nurses in telehealth leads to positive outcomes for stakeholders, although it is important to make sure that the necessary legislation is in place. Such aspects as reimbursement, staffing, and training should receive the necessary attention.
References
Asiri, A., AlBishi, S., AlMadani, W., ElMetwally, A., & Househ, M. (2018). The use of telemedicine in surgical care: A systematic review. Acta Informatica Medica, 26(3), 201-206.
Honey, M., & Wright, J. (2018). Nurses developing confidence and competence in telehealth: Results of a descriptive qualitative study. Contemporary Nurse, 54(4-5), 472-482.
Watkins, S., & Neubrander, J. (2020). Primary-care registered nurse telehealth policy implications. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 0(0), 1-4.