Albemarle, N.C.-based Atrium Health Stanly is preparing to launch a virtual nursing program aimed at easing bedside nurse workloads and improving patient care, backed by a $1.45 million grant from the Duke Endowment.
The rural hospital will be the first fully wired facility in Charlotte, N.C.-based Advocate Health’s system, outfitted with high-resolution, two-way audio and video cameras in every patient room. The virtual nursing setup will allow nurses to monitor and communicate with patients in real time while working alongside bedside nurses—not in place of them.
“This strategy is really leading the way for nursing at Advocate Health,” Laura Rashleger, MSN, RN, vice president of enterprise nursing operations and virtual nursing at Advocate Health, told Becker’s. “It’s a fully integrated care model that supports the cognitive workload of bedside nurses.”
Nurses participating in the program may rotate between working virtually and providing in-person care. She said this flexible approach has already improved vacancy rates by up to 60% in certain areas, adding, “we’ve seen some great improvements with our two-to-one model, where nurses spend one day behind the camera and two days on the unit.”
Atrium Health Stanly was selected as the launch site due to its rural location and the unique opportunity to pilot innovative care delivery models in an area that faces both geographic and economic barriers.
“Its geography presents challenges that make it an ideal state for innovation,” Ms. Rashleger said. “We believe improving healthcare begins with lifting everyone up—rural to urban—and reimagining care for all.”
In addition to virtual nursing, Advocate Health will expand its rural residency program at the Stanly facility. She said both initiatives reflect the health system’s commitment to strengthening communities by integrating high-quality care with clinical education.
The Duke Endowment grant will support the creation of 50 new roles. She described a hybrid staffing model that blends virtual nursing and on-site care. The program will also establish a new micro hub at Stanly, where local clinicians will work in coordination with an existing hub in Charlotte.
“These positions will work as virtual nurses, but also be embedded in the facility,” Ms. Rashleger said. “We’re keeping the clinicians local while connecting them to a broader virtual team.”
While technology is central to the program, she emphasized that the focus remains on people—both patients and caregivers.
“One great feature is that family members who live far away can now participate in their loved one’s care,” she said. “Whether they’re in Florida or across the country, they can be part of care rounds. That’s a huge win.”
Virtual nursing has also helped retain experienced nurses who might have otherwise retired.
“We’ve been able to keep different generations behind the camera, nurses we might have lost,” Ms. Rashleger said.
To evaluate the program’s success, Advocate Health will track a range of clinical and workforce metrics.
“We’re looking at everything from patient falls and satisfaction to length of stay and care throughput,” she said. “We’ve already seen a reduction of nearly 200,000 falls since January, so we know we’re headed in the right direction.”
The program has also drawn attention from health organizations around the world, including in Singapore, the United Kingdom and Switzerland. She said the interest reflects the strength of Advocate Health’s “co-care” model, which keeps nurses connected to patients virtually at all times.
“This isn’t just a response to the pandemic,” she said. “It’s a model built for the future—one designed to support patients, communities and caregivers.”
