Personal Narrative : Future Of Nursing

Telemedicine refers to the use of medical information, which is exchanged from one place to another through several electronic communications to improve the health status of patients. Telehealth is closely associated with the term telemedicine. Telehealth encompasses a broader definition of the remote healthcare, which does not necessarily involve any clinical services. As such, transmission of images, video conferencing, medical education, e-health such as patient portals and nursing centers are all part of telehealth and telemedicine. Telehealth and telemedicine are critical issues within the healthcare sector for both the practitioners and the consumers. With the increase in telecommunications development, the internet, and lowered costs of technology, the use of telehealth and telemedicine may have a revolutionary and profound impacts in the field of medical care worldwide. Telemedicine is imperative to healthcare professionals because it is cost efficient, improves access to health care and the increased convenience for

There are many legal and regulatory issues that nurses must consider before going into telenursing. Telehealth system requires tough legal regulation to prevent unauthorized and illegal service providers in this sector. There is a low quality of health informatics records, such as X-rays, and there is an increased risk or error in clinical services if the service is delivered by an inexperienced professional. Furthermore, confidential medical information can be leaked if the electronic system is faulty. Nurses who choose to practice in this field must meet the challenge of developing standards for safe and effective practice. The nurse’s role in telehealth has increased in breadth and scope causing the need for practice standards, The American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing (AAACN) published its first Telehealth Nursing Practice Administration and Practice Standards in 1997 to articulate expectations for nurses who are interested in telenursing practice (American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing [AAACN], 2015). There are also revised versions that are published on a regular basis. These standards provide nurses with current professional practices, norms, and expectations. Reading and understanding these standards allow nurses entering telenursing to reflect on their role as nurses in this emerging area of

Telemedicine seeks to improve a patient’s health by permitting a two-way communication between the patient, and the physician or practitioner at the distant site.

Telehealth technology also plays a significant role in time and cost saving (Mofat& Ely 2010). Through the technological applications, nurses are in a position to communicate and monitor their outpatients without the need to travel (Nagel et al., 2015). Also, through applications such as teleconferencing, health specialists such as cardiologists are now in a position to train the interns in the field without the need to travel to his/her theater (Tuerk & Shore, 2014).

Presently, telehealth is recognized as the use of remote healthcare that includes non-clinical services, provider trainings, administrative meetings, and continuing medical education in addition to clinical services through different modes of technology over distances (Krupinski, Bernard, 2014). Telehealth, creates an opportunity to increase access and the quality of care to individuals without general means of transportation and individuals in rural communities everywhere around the world. Telehealth in conjunction to advanced practice nursing, also referred to as telenursing, creates an opportunity to make an even greater impact and make the use of telehealth more feasible in many respects. In the same way telehealth can

A key element used to drive the nursing practice forward is the ability to adapt and incorporate new ideas and technologies with an open mind, and the use of a scientific approach. According to (HRSA, 2015) telehealth is the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support long-distance clinical health care, patient and professional health-related education, public health and health administration. Technologies include video conferencing, the internet, store-and-forward imaging, streaming media, and terrestrial and wireless communications. When conducting research into what types of telehealth operations will be successful and beneficial one must look into certain areas of telehealth such as; right equipment

Watching the video of telemedicine truly opened my eyes to the new stages and advances of technology and medicine. This is the first time I have heard of telemedicine I think this is a great step moving forward in the healthcare field. I used the textbook to find and understand the meaning of telemedicine “remote consultation by patients with physicians or other health professionals via telephone, closed-circuit television, or the Internet” (Judson, 2016). With telemedicine, it can improve health, reduce cost, and access to care in rural and urban areas. The only downside to telemedicine is the common issue with technology, such as downtime, power shortages or power outages.

What is telehealth? Telehealth is the information and communication technology which delivers health services over distances. This information includes Internet or web-based ‘e-health’ and video-based applications which can be delivered in real-time or store-and-forward mode. Telehealth is unique and has the capability to cross geographical, temporal, political, social and cultural barriers within the health sector. Telemedicine is often used interchangeably with telehealth, however the term telemedicine generally implies a physician mediated interaction with patients.”[2]

Telehealth can be used to reach patients in their homes through remote monitoring where personal health and medical data is collected from a patient in his home. Telehealth nurses use systems that allow monitoring of patient data and physiologic parameters, such as, blood pressure,

Telehealth has become a preferred method of healthcare delivery for many patients and healthcare professionals alike. Some key benefits include its convenience and cost effectiveness. It also allows patients to play a more active role in their own healthcare, which has been found to dramatically increase patient outcomes. While research suggests that the advantages of telehealth outweigh the disadvantages, it is important to note that not everyone would benefit from this form of technology. It is crucial for the patient’s healthcare team to assess if this method of healthcare delivery is appropriate for that individual patient. In today’s society, staying current on the latest technologies is extremely important. Although telehealth

Telehealth is a newer form of healthcare that is presenting a positive impact on patients’ health and on healthcare costs. Telehealth covers a range of technology from mobile device use to physician to physician or physician to patient consults through video to assessing a patient physically who is in a different state or country. This type of technology is becoming an acceptable form of healthcare for patients, providers and insurers. Telehealth is improving the outcomes for patients while decreasing the costs of healthcare. Physician offices as well as hospitals are diving deeper into this type of care. The ability to monitor patients remotely saves time and money for the patient but also decreases visits to the hospital. In 2012 it was reported that 308,000 patients around the world utilized remote monitoring for: hypertension, diabetes, congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and mental health conditions. PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) estimated in 2009 that utilization of remote monitoring could reduce healthcare costs by $197 billion dollars by 2025. PWC also found that one out of two respondents surveyed were open to utilizing technology for healthcare. The Veteran’s Administrator’s telehealth program showed that utilization of health systems was reduced by 30% for those enrolled in the telehealth program. (Thomas-Hertz, 2013)

Relatively new to the language of healthcare, telehealth offers a variety of care services provided via telecommunication tools. The electronic delivery of health services allows healthcare professionals to have direct, utilitarian communication with patients. The telephone, videophone, and computer are some examples of telecommunication tools. There are many propelling forces behind the growing field of telehealth. This includes healthcare and nursing employee shortages, educated clients, chronic illnesses, demographics, and economics. Telehealth is becoming a vital component for allowing clinicians to enhance care services. Nurses usually spend the most time with the patients and therefore it is crucial that they have a full

Telemedicine is a comprehensive term for the support of long distance clinical healthcare, patient and professional health-related education, public health, and health administration. With the growing population and the prevalence of enduring diseases across the globe, there are vital telemedicine requirements to find ways to improve outcomes of patients healthcare, access to care, and reduces the cost of clinical care. Using continual and uninterrupted remote health monitoring of patients, healthcare providers, insurance payors, and everyone is looking to alter significantly how care is delivered to patients, while reducing cost of care in equivalent time.

Tele-nursing has been around for a long time, but now a days it requires more demanding and more practicing diversely in nursing. The reason is that it is saving a cost of care, helping the shortage of nurses, reducing distances and travel time, keeping patients out of hospital and expending in coverage of healthcare to distance.

Telenursing has allowed for nurse to continue cares of their patient even after they are discharged from hospital. “The ICN defines telenursing as follows. Telenursing refers to the use of telecommunications technology in nursing to enhance patient care”. (Kamei, 2013). There are many ways to communicate and gather information about the patient via landline phones, cell phones, videophones, personal computers, patient-specific information input terminals, tablet computers, and smart phone. These devices are essential for providing health care professional and nursing consult and mentor patients. (Kamei, 2013). Telenurses monitor patient continuously paying attention to their non-verbal cues, and tone of voice, breathing rate to determine if there are any issues of concern. “The key to effectively forming and maintaining the nurse-patient relationship lies in the nurse’s ability to interact and communicate with the patient.” (Jones, Hendricks, & Cope, 2012). According to Kamei, there are five principles to follow with telenursing. The first principle is of “building a therapeutic nurse-client relationships”. The second principle is of “providing and documenting care”. The third principle is of “roles and responsibilities”. The fourth principle is “consent, privacy and confidentiality”. And last, the fifth principle is “ethical and legal considerations”. The nurse should be able to establish rapport with patient; be knowledgeable to provide proper education in