2023 Together - PH321 - Rapid Deployment of a Large-Scale Virtual Nursing Program
Facing challenges such as nursing shortages, bed closures and high use of contract traveler nurse labor, our executive team identified and supported exploration and rapid deployment of a virtual nursing program across four pilot units (about 130 acute care beds). With a small team of remote nurses, this program quickly expanded across six acute care hospitals — over 36 units and 985 beds — within the first eight months of service. We will share large amounts of data, including overall volumes of remote admission and discharge tasks being completed (over 46,700 as of June 25, 2023), as well as a comprehensive review of other metrics the program has positively impacted.
Target Audience
- Healthcare Quality Professionals
- Nurses
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacy Technicians
- Physicians
- Other Healthcare Professionals
Learning Objectives
Describe the benefits of FTE modeling for rapid deployment of a virtual nursing program.
List lessons learned during large-scale rollout at an urban health system, including a variety of specialty care patient units.
Steve Klahn, MBA, BSN, CCRN-K, FACHE, System Virtual Medicine Director, Houston Methodist, Houston, Texas
Lindsay Randle, MBA, System Virtual Medicine Director, Houston Methodist, Houston, Texas
Melissa L. Gomez, MBA, Project Specialist, vICU and TeleNursing, Houston Methodist, Houston, Texas
Credit Types
Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE)
This activity was planned by, and for, the healthcare team, and learners will receive .50 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.
Available Credit
- 0.50 ACPE Pharmacist
- 0.50 ACPE Pharmacy Technician
- 0.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
- 0.50 ANCC
- 0.50 CPHQ – Certified Professional Healthcare Quality
- 0.50 General CE - Attendance
- 0.50 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE)