This course focuses primarily on patient education and telehealth. Telehealth relies on patient participation; partnering with patients to facilitate telehealth education is essential to guarantee the implementation of a successful program (American Medical Association, 2020). This patient-centered approach allows the patient to feel comfortable and be informed, engaged, and empowered. Specifically, using telehealth for patient education is helpful in promoting health and well-being. Further, continued education is an important component in the treatment of acute and chronic diseases.
Telehealth is a practice of using telecommunication technology like video conferencing over the internet, to evaluate, diagnose, and provide care remotely. Telehealth includes a variety of services ranging from live audio visual calls to remote monitoring. A nurse tasked with encouraging clients to use telehealth services needs to keep a number of things in mind while introducing someone to the telehealth services for the first time.
The first is choosing when to do it. It's best to actively bring up conversations about telehealth to the client while calling to confirm their appointment or at the end of their doctor's appointment. The initial discussion should be in simple words and without any medical jargon. For example, avoid terms like telehealth or telemedicine. And instead come up with terms like online consultation, virtual house calls.
Next, the nurse needs to emphasize the benefits of telehealth to their clients-- including access to health care at a convenient time and place, no travel time or costs, and also reduces exposure to infections, especially during times of disease outbreaks. In addition, clients need not come in for minor issues like reviewing their reports or refilling chronic disease prescriptions. In order to effectively explain the telehealth process in their hospital to their clients, the nurse can use a combination of oral instructions, written instructions, and demonstration sessions.
Written instructions can be provided in the form of a quick, step-by-step manual on a brochure or the hospital's website. The manual should include the details of the equipment needed for the session, the institution's website address, how to get their login details, , steps to log in, schedule a virtual appointment, and join the video conference with their doctor, how to pick up their prescription at the recommended pharmacy after the appointment, and follow up with their doctor. The manual can also contain answers to a bunch of frequently answered questions like insurance coverage for the online consultation. Another effective way the nurse can familiarize their clients with the process would be to conduct a demo session in person or with shared screens.
Next, the nurse will have to explain about the technology needed for a virtual appointment. Usually, all that will be required is a computer, smartphone, or tablet, and a separate microphone and webcam if it's not included in the mobile device or computer, and access to the internet. And most clients will already own these and only need to be reassured that they will not have to spend on additional technology. Finally, the nurse also needs to give the clients time to go over the details and get back with any questions they might have.
As a quick recap, telehealth is a practice of using telecommunication technology like video conferencing over the internet to evaluate, diagnose, and provide care remotely. A nurse tasked with encouraging clients to use telehealth services needs to keep in mind a number of things. First, the timing-- the nurse can actively bring up telehealth while calling to confirm the client's appointment or at the end of their doctor's appointment.
Second, avoid medical jargon in the discussion. And even replace the terms telehealth or telemedicine with online consultation or virtual house calls. Third, emphasize the benefits of telehealth for clients. Use a combination of oral instructions, written instructions, and demonstration sessions. Also, explain regarding the necessary technology. Finally, the nurse should give the clients time to go over the details and address any questions they might have.
Authored by Cindy Ebner, MSN, RN, CPHRM, FASHRM and Melissa A. Singer Pressman, PhD, MLIS
If you are struggling with a concept or terminology in the course, you may contact TelehealthSupport@capella.edu for assistance.
If you are having technical issues, please contact learningcoach@sophia.org.