Danville, Pennsylvania-based Geisinger announced this week that it has received a $948,741 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development, which it will use to build out its virtual inpatient nursing program.
WHY IT MATTERS
The grant, paid out as part of the USDA’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program, will be used to equip Geisinger Medical Center and Geisinger Shamokin Area Community Hospital with new telehealth technologies as part of Geisinger’s Virtual Nursing Program, which was launched last year launched.
The initiative is designed to give experienced nurses the tools and ability to provide system-wide remote support through Geisinger’s 24/7 Virtual Nursing Center, where registered nurses handle admissions, discharges and virtual rounds, allowing nurses to prioritize bedside to practical patient care. .
This effort not only provides patients with greater access and an improved care experience, but also helps bedside nurses manage their workload – while providing opportunities for experienced nurses who may have retired from active bedside care but are still want to help patients.
“Virtual nursing will play a critical role in the future of healthcare and how we address critical healthcare issues, such as the ongoing nurse shortage and increased patient acuity in our hospitals,” said Janet Tomcavage, RN, executive vice president and chief nursing executive at Geisinger.
“When we find innovative ways to create a work environment where nurses are engaged and make the most of their skills, our patients benefit too,” she added.
THE BIG TREND
The USDA grant to Geisinger is just one part of the larger $4.7 million effort to provide rural Pennsylvania residents with greater access to distance learning and health care. Are Distance Learning and Telemedicine Scholarships fund real-time distance learning and virtual care services in rural and tribal areas.
Geisinger, of course, has long been an innovative pioneer in telemedicine and virtual care, and has greatly expanded its telehealth offerings in recent years. It now offers telemedicine services for more than 70 specialties, virtual behavioral health and telepsychiatry and more.
Just this week, Healthcare IT news profiled how the health care system’s virtual group therapy programs are allowing more patients to be treated faster.
ON THE RECORD
“We are always looking for ways to improve patient outcomes and employee experiences through innovative, efficient and effective approaches to care,” said Rebecca Stametz, vice president of digital transformation at Geisinger, in a statement. “To do that we need access to the best digital options. By creating systems that improve the daily lives of our nurses, they can continue to provide the best care in a rapidly evolving field. We are grateful for the opportunities this grant provides.”
“We are eager to build on the success of our Virtual Nursing Program,” said Derek Godino, Geisinger’s senior program director of nursing. “This grant will help us explore and expand our virtual nursing capabilities – meaning more of our inpatients will be able to benefit from this advanced level of care and more of our nurses will have additional flexibility and career opportunities.”
Mike Miliard is editor-in-chief of Healthcare IT News
Email the writer: mike.miliard@himssmedia.com
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS publication.