Nursing leadership can leverage technology across the care continuum to enhance quality and experience for patients, even during the pandemic.
During Becker's Nursing Leadership Virtual Forum event "Together in Hospital. Together at Home" sponsored by Masimo, industry leaders discussed how technology is changing the nursing profession.
The speakers were:
- Mike Becker, PhD, RN, chief nursing executive/vice president of nursing at Masimo
- Mitchell Fong, director of telehealth at Reno, Nev.-based Renown Health
- Sarah Brace, RN, manager of transitional care at Annapolis, Md.-based Anne Arundel Medical Center, part of Luminis Health
Three key takeaways from the event:
1. COVID-19 has changed the way people view the transition between clinic and home healthcare, Dr. Becker began. Nurse leaders trying to have patients optimize healthcare through innovative techniques can leverage Masimo's platform, which encompasses acute to home care and everything in between. Wireless hand-held technology puts necessary patient data at nurses' fingertips, while also giving the patient and family members a guide to care. Included is wireless and tethered technology able to monitor oxygen saturation, respiratory rate and temperature, along with an app that connects to electronic medical records and a central notification system.
2. Renown Health was hit very hard by COVID-19 and had to quickly convert a parking garage into an alternate care site, Mr. Fong said. The Rad-97 Masimo bedside units had Wi-Fi capability, which allowed nursing staff to monitor COVID-19 patients in the alternate care site. Masimo SafetyNet was deployed to those units prior to discharge, with patients taught how to use it and then discharged home. Providers then had the ability to monitor those patients' vitals 24/7, with Renown even discharging patients with up to four liters of oxygen support, Mr. Fong said. Providers were to have real-time patient data and a live feed, formally discharging patients safely from the remote monitoring program at home.
The technology has empowered Renown's care teams and is a seamless experience for patients, Mr. Fong noted. The system believes the program is the first step to a true "hospital at home" and is looking to expand the program with some of its rural ancillary partners.
"The future of healthcare is operating in the patient's home," Mr. Fong concluded.
3. Anne Arundel Medical Center has been using remote patient monitoring for the last 10 months, Ms. Brace said. The hospital was disproportionately affected by COVID-19, launching a remote patient monitoring program in June for patients transitioning home after a COVID-19 diagnosis.
In July, the hospital included outpatients in the program, utilizing it as an emergency department diversion technique. During a November surge of COVID-19 patients, the hospital was monitoring between 50 and 70 patients with the program. In February, 2021, the hospital had zero readmissions for COVID-19 patients engaged in the program, meaning those patients received the necessary care at the right time and right place, Ms. Brace said. The program was also well-received by patients and providers alike, decreasing anxiety associated with a COVID-19 diagnosis. The pandemic has been isolating, Ms. Brace said, so this was an opportunity for the hospital to really shine in its care for patients.
For more information on Masimo, click here. To view the full event, click here.