Next Generation Telehealth and Telemedicine Systems (or Telehealth 2.0) allow for physical examination at the point of care while the healthcare provider remains remote. These systems can play a significant role in addressing staff shortages in nursing homes by providing remote medical care and support. Here are several ways in which Next Generation Telehealth helps nursing homes:
1. Virtual Consultations: Telehealth enables nursing home residents to receive virtual consultations with healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurse practitioners, and specialists. These consultations allow residents to receive medical attention without the need for in-person visits and by adding physical examination thanks to next generation telehealth systems. This can help alleviate the burden on the limited on-site staff and reduce the need for transportation to external healthcare facilities, saving significant amounts of money for payers and LTC owners while offering better and convenient options for care.
2. Remote Monitoring: Telehealth technology allows for remote monitoring of patients' vital signs, such as blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen levels from a centralized location. With the help of wearable devices and sensors, nursing home staff can continuously track residents' health status and receive alerts if any abnormalities are detected. This helps in the early identification of potential health issues and allows for timely interventions, reducing the need for constant physical presence by staff members.
3. Medication Management: Telehealth platforms can assist with medication management by providing reminders, dosing instructions, and tracking systems. This technology can help nursing home staff ensure that residents are taking their medications correctly and on time, reducing the risk of medication errors. Remote monitoring of medication adherence can also help identify potential issues and allow for prompt interventions, minimizing the need for staff supervision.
4. Staff Training and Support: Telehealth can provide training and support to nursing home staff, even in remote locations. Online training modules and virtual education sessions can help improve the skills and knowledge of the existing staff. Additionally, telehealth platforms can offer real-time support to staff members, allowing them to consult with healthcare professionals for guidance and clarification, especially when faced with complex medical situations.
5. Specialist Consultations: Nursing homes often face challenges in accessing specialist care due to geographical constraints or limited availability. Next generation telehealth bridges this gap by enabling remote consultations with specialists, regardless of their location and still being able to examine patients. This allows nursing home staff to collaborate with experts and obtain specialized advice and treatment recommendations for residents, improving the overall quality of care, reducing nursing home rehospitalization rates and reducing the risks and headaches of transporting the members out of the facility to receive such services conventionally.
6. Behavioral Health Support: Telehealth can provide mental health services and counseling to nursing home residents. This includes remote consultations with psychologists or psychiatrists, group therapy sessions, and remote monitoring of mental health conditions. By addressing residents' mental health needs remotely, nursing home staff can provide additional support and resources without relying solely on in-person visits.
7. Reduced healthcare costs: Telehealth 2.0 can help reduce healthcare costs for nursing homes and their residents by minimizing the need for in-person visits and hospitalizations. Telehealth 2.0 will also reduce dramatically the cost associated with members of long-term care facilities (LTCs) physically being transported to their regularly scheduled doctor's visits that now can take place on site. Telehealth2.0 can also help nursing homes to reduce staffing costs, as they may not need to have as many healthcare providers on site at all times.
Overall, Telehealth 2.0 can help nursing homes overcome staff shortages by extending the reach of healthcare professionals, improving access to care, providing remote monitoring capabilities, and enhancing staff training and support. By leveraging telehealth technologies, nursing homes can better optimize their resources and deliver quality care to their residents more efficiently while improving the bottom line.
