The criticality of the healthcare sector to a nation cannot be overemphasized. In the United States, for example, approximately 85% of the population record at least one encounter with health care annually (Rosen et al., 2018). Research further indicates that at least one-quarter of the said population records 4 to 9 healthcare encounters annually (Rosen et al., 2018). Conventionally, a single healthcare encounter calls for collaboration among clinicians, administrators, patients, and their families & friends. Therefore, in light of such cooperation, an interdisciplinary team comprising the various stakeholders can play a pivotal role in gathering and reporting quality indicator data required to enhance safety, patient care outcomes, and organizational performance.
Evidence or data gathered is needed to support the effectiveness of the technology. An example of technology that stands to benefit from such findings is Telehealth, referred to as telemedicine in certain quarters. In simple terms, Telehealth refers to the deployment of information and communication (ICT) technologies in offering long-distance healthcare-related services. In essence, Telehealth mitigates the need for physical presence. The increased application of Telehealth, especially following COVID-19, warrants an evaluation of its effectiveness/suitability. A U.S.-based survey in 2020 established that 40% of patients with a clinical condition used Telehealth in the spring of 2020 (Predmore et al., 2021). The increased use of Telehealth did not come totally as a surprise. Pre-COVID-19 surveys indicated that 49% to 66% of people were willing to use video visits, with most of them preferring Telehealth when interacting with clinicians they were familiar with as opposed to new ones (Predmore et al., 2021). The resources outlined below offer evidence that can be used by healthcare organizations to enhance the quality of care, patient outcomes, and organizational performance using Telehealth.
American Hospital Association. (2020, May). Telehealth and Virtual Care Best Practices. American Hospital Association. Retrieved July 11, 2022, from https://www.aha.org/system/files/media/file/2020/04/COVID-19-Telehealth-Best- Practices_final.pdf
This article by the American Hospital Association outlines a host of best practices relating to the use of Telehealth. Although much of the information contained in the article focuses on the management of COVID-19 cases, the American Hospital Association identifies several tools that can be used to improve the application of Telehealth. Zoom for Healthcare and Updox are examples of tools highlighted in the article that can assist healthcare organizations in supporting the application of Telehealth. Emanating from the American Hospital Association, the information contained in this article is both credible and reliable. Healthcare organizations can use such information to mitigate some of the challenges encountered in the use of Telehealth. In addition, the article directs healthcare organizations on where to access telehealth applications. Some of the major telehealth vendors, according to the AHA, are Teladoc Health, Doctor on Demand Inc., and Amwell.
Bartz, C. C. (2020). Telehealth nursing research: adding to the evidence-base for Healthcare. Journal of the International Society for Telemedicine and e-Health, 8, e19-1. https://doi.org/10.29086/JISfTeH.8.e19
In this journal article, the researcher reviews the available nurse-led research on Telehealth. The researcher conducts the review with the target of offering evidence for nursing practice. Importantly, this review comes in a period characterized by the increased use of Telehealth due to challenges generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Specific from this research can play a key role in applying Telehealth. As per Bartz’s findings, individuals with healthcare needs perform better with individual attention and enhanced follow-up. Bartz further established that people have a significant level of tolerance for technology applied aimed at improving quality of life and care; however, there is a point at which technology becomes overbearing. From such findings, while the use of Telehealth is recommended, its use should be customized to match the needs of a patient.
Davis, S. M., Jones, A., Jaynes, M. E., Woodrum, K. N., Canaday, M., Allen, L., & Mallow, J. A. (2020). Designing a multifaceted telehealth intervention for
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