Author Question: A nurse working in a rural area is convinced of the benefits of using telehealth to improve patient ... (Read 88 times)

kshipps · **on:** Jul 17, 2018

A nurse working in a rural area is convinced of the benefits of using telehealth to improve patient outcomes. What action by the nurse would be best to ensure the availability of telehealth services to all those who need them?

a. Advocate for federal legislation requiring third-party reimbursement for services.
b. Become certified in telehealth nursing by the telehealth resource center (TRC).
c. Provide education for small, rural facilities and their staffs on telehealth practice.
d. Work to ensure telehealth centers have specific policies on confidentiality.

Question 2

An experienced intensive care unit (ICU) nurse is resisting the implementation of telehealth in the ICU because we each only have one or two patients and are always available. What action by the manager is best?

a. Explain how telehealth can reduce specific adverse events in ICU patients.
b. Provide education on the advantages of telehealth in the ICU.
c. Remind the staff that telehealth is part of their health care environment.
d. Visit with the nurse and ask why the nurse is so against telehealth.

meow1234 · **Reply #1 on:** Jul 17, 2018

Answer to Question 1

A
Third party reimbursement for telehealth services is a challenge to the field. The nurse can best promote access to telehealth by working to pass bills requiring third-party reimbursement for these services.
There is no certification in Telehealth Nursing offered by the TRC.
Providing education is important, but ensuring third-party reimbursement would have more impact.
Policies on confidentiality are vital, but working to ensure third-party reimbursement would have more impact.

Answer to Question 2

A
The manager should explain specific details of how telehealth can improve outcomes for ICU patients. For example, the use of electronic intensive care units (e-ICUs) helps to prevent untoward outcomes, such as reintubation or unplanned extubation, and improves patient outcomes by recognizing changes in patient trends. These events are significant for this nurse's patient population.
Providing education is a good intervention, but this option is too vague to be the best choice for the manager. The manager should discuss specific events related to the ICU population.
Reminding the staff of policies and procedures is always an appropriate action, but without the nurse's buy-in of the process, this information alone will not encourage the nurse to support the system.
Asking why questions is a nontherapeutic communication technique that often puts people on the defensive.