Virtual nurses who handle admission and discharges are cutting length of stay times and readmissions, researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found.
The study, published in ResearchGate, analyzed nearly 28,000 inpatient encounters across two hospitals, one of which implemented a virtual nurse program.
Here are three findings:
1. Virtual nursing cut the average inpatient length of stay by more than 7%.
2. The program reduced readmission rates by around 2%.
3. The study found the most significant improvements materialized when virtual nurses were used during admissions, rather than discharges. During admissions, virtual nurses were able to organize information early, such as checking patient history and timeliness of care, which led to better outcomes and a smoother stay, according to an Aug. 8 university news release.
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