Evaluation of a Virtual Nursing Service and a Virtual Specialty Practice Service as Workforce Mitigation and Access Strategies

Project Overview

The Virtual Nursing program involves an innovative care delivery model, leveraging teams of remote, virtual nurses to support bedside nurses in providing care via technology. Virtual nurses may complete timely documentation, update patient care plans, and perform video calls to provide patient/family education at the bedside. While virtual nurses offset time-consuming tasks, bedside nurses can spend more time providing direct medical care to their patients. The COE is working to expand this program systemwide and evaluate its impact on patients’ and providers’ health and well-being.

Virtual Specialty Care seeks to increase access to specialty providers through virtual services. These “no barrier” services can be scheduled with or without a referral from a primary care provider. As a result, patients can often schedule new appointments within one week, offering an alternative to the significant wait periods often associated with in-person specialty care. In addition, Virtual Specialty Care assists patients with coordinating referrals for in-person lab work, imaging, and pharmaceuticals based on their location. Currently, seven specialties are offered: primary care, endocrinology, rheumatology, benign hematology, neurology, pulmonary, and sleep medicine. To date, Virtual Specialty Care has shown promise in improving access and quality of specialty care for patients across South Carolina, and the COE continues to seek opportunities to expand this program across the system.