Delivering Superior Access and Care

Beebe Healthcare piloting virtual nurse program to benefit patients and nurses

BY LORETTA OSTROSKI, RN

BEEBE HEALTHCARE is always looking for ways that technology and innovation can improve the patient experience and ease the burden on caring nurses. In January, Beebe became one of the first hospitals in Delaware to test a six-month pilot that created a “virtual nurse” for one floor of the Margaret H. Rollins Lewes Campus.

The results have been astounding with patients and nurses responding positively to the change. CMS provides a survey to patients that allows them to speak on the many aspects of care that the patient receives. Since implementing this virtual nurse program, Beebe’s scores for nurse communication have increased by 20 percent!

The virtual nurse can alleviate many timeconsuming requirements of bedside nursing, while also being a timely resource if a patient or family member has a question.

“It’s really a win-win for everyone. Patients love having a nurse to communicate with at the touch of a fingertip on the iPad,” says Dareth Penuel, BSN, RN, nurse manager of Medsurg, Oncology, Hospital at Home & Virtual Nurse. “We really think this concept can play a role throughout the hospital for certain individuals. As a charge nurse on the floor, it can be such a resource for bedside nurses to have this extra help. It can save a nurse up to 20 minutes if a virtual nurse takes care of discharge.”

Some tasks a virtual nurse can take on include:

• New admission and patient discharges

• Patient education for diagnosis or medication

• Follow-up pain assessments and plan of care

• Family member updates

• Assisting bedside nurses in follow-up questions or cosigns they can take care of additional patients.

When Beebe announced its five-year strategic plan, “One Beebe,” one of the main strategies for the “Delivering Superior Access and Care” goal is to customize a path to care with technology as a foundation.

The virtual nurse program is just one example that achieves this. Beebe is also working on expanding virtual care and telehealth throughout Beebe Medical Group and its outpatient offices. “Beebe is focused on delivering superior access to care and experience to patients by making thoughtful investments in people, infrastructure, technology, innovation, partnerships, and comprehensive services to ensure that everyone in our community can enjoy convenient access to the best healthcare experiences that exceed both their expectations and overall industry standards,” says David A. Tam, MD, MBA, CPHE, FACHE, president & CEO. “This also means supporting our workforce by finding innovative ways to streamline patient care and their roles.

“Beebe has always been about people—from our patients and their families to our team members. This will never change. Patients and people first remain the framework for One Beebe because Sussex County is Our Specialty.”

Loretta Ostroski, RN, is vice president of Inpatient Nursing and Emergency Services at Beebe Healthcare. Learn more about One Beebe at https://www. beebehealthcare.org/one-beebe.