At OAAPN, we know that APRNs are extremely valuable to today’s healthcare system. The Nurse Practitioners, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists, Clinical Nurse Specialists, and Certified Nurse Midwives among our members all hold critical roles in addressing the rise in chronic medical conditions, expanding access to healthcare, and meeting population health needs, especially for aging or underserved populations.
One of the ways that APRNs are doing this is through telehealth. While telehealth has been around for years, the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 accelerated an immediate shift to telehealth across the country and ultimately changed many aspects of how medical professionals deliver quality healthcare.
What is telehealth?
Telehealth refers to technology-enabled healthcare management and delivery systems that allow patients to receive care without an in-person office visit. Thus, it can both increase capacity and the level of services available to the patient. A variety of specialized care is available through telehealth, and it is particularly helpful for the monitoring of ongoing health issues.
What are the benefits of telehealth?
Even as the restrictions associated with the pandemic have lessened, virtual visits and telehealth have continued to grow in popularity. While there are cases where in-person office visits are necessary, there are a number of benefits of care via telehealth.
- Improved access – Telehealth has the ability to extend beyond geographic reach and can improve access to care for people living in remote or rural areas. It also is helping to bridge the gap of availability resulting from the growing physician shortage.
- Increased cost efficiencies – Telehealth is exceptionally cost-effective for healthcare providers and consumers. In addition to the upfront cost savings granted by telehealth, patients can also save money by saving time via reduced wait times and eliminating commute time and time from work.
- Improved quality of service – Telehealth increases accessibility and cost-effectiveness without compromising the quality of care for patients. In fact, in a recent survey, 77% of respondents said they were highly satisfied with their virtual experience.
The role of APRNs in telehealth
Telehealth gives healthcare providers a tremendous opportunity to use technology to improve care. As the demand for telehealth continues to grow, APRNs need to prioritize it in their care delivery strategies, applying their skills and experience to create a supportive environment for patients and families as well as for professional staff.
Incorporating telehealth into their practice allows APRNs to improve access to care for remote, urban, and vulnerable populations by naturally eliminating barriers created by in-person visits.
Understanding that improved healthcare options for all Ohioans are important to both the profession and the community, OAAPN seeks to strengthen the profession and provide resources to our members that they can’t get elsewhere. We encourage all members of OAAPN to get involved and of course, If you are not already a member of OAAPN, we invite you to join today.