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Informatics Program Telehealth Implementation Plan Assignment
School of Nursing, Liberty University
Author Note
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
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Informatics Program Telehealth Implementation Plan Assignment
Access to healthcare is critical for overall physical, social, and mental health, disease
prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of sickness, as well as for quality of life,
avoidable mortality, and life expectancy, according to Healthy People 2030 [ CITATION Off22 \l
1033 ]. Rural areas frequently encounter a range of challenges that make it difficult for them to
access the healthcare they require and deserve (Nelson et al., 2018). To obtain proper treatment,
suitable healthcare services, such as telehealth, must be available. Telehealth is the application of
electronic information and telecommunications technology to long-distance clinical treatment,
health education for patients and professionals, public health, and health management (Nelson et
al., 2018). Telehealth enables healthcare to be delivered regardless of the patient's or provider's
location. Telehealth programs can be beneficial in a variety of different fields and specialties,
including dermatology, radiology, and pathology (Nelson et al., 2018). Telehealth can enable
access to chronic illness diagnosis, treatment, management, and prevention. Telehealth can assist
in addressing gaps in healthcare access and outcomes by removing obstacles to care for those
who live a long distance from experts or who have transportation or mobility challenges (CDC,
2020). Telehealth has the potential to be an effective way of communication and counseling
between patients and healthcare practitioners, allowing clinicians to better monitor their patients'
chronic diseases, resulting in improved patient quality of life and a decrease in hospital
admissions and fatalities (CDC, 2020). Telehealth's objective is to improve rural populations'
access to chronic disease prevention and management programs for diseases such as stroke,
diabetes, and tobacco cessation.
Quality and Safety Education for Nurses
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The Quality and Safety Education for Nurses (QSEN) Institute is a partnership of healthcare
professionals committed to advancing the quality and safety of healthcare systems through
education and practice [ CITATION Alt19 \l 1033 ]. QSEN has defined quality and safety
competencies for future nurses. These competencies include the knowledge and skills necessary
to consistently enhance the quality and safety of healthcare and healthcare delivery systems
[ CITATION Alt19 \l 1033 ]. Patient-centered care, cooperation and collaboration, evidence-
based practice, quality improvement, safety, and informatics are among the competences
established by QSEN [ CITATION Alt19 \l 1033 ]. Each skill has an associated understanding,
implementation, and value set that must be met. When new technologies, such as telehealth
programs, are developed, they must adhere to particular standards and criteria in order to be
effective throughout the program's adoption in the healthcare delivery process.
Patient Centered Care
People who do not have access to hospitals, specialists, or healthcare in general might
benefit from telehealth programs, which were created to fill a need (Nelson et al., 2018). Because
of this technology, healthcare practitioners may reach patients at any time and from any location.
Instead of just treating illnesses, telehealth enables clinicians to build a relationship with their
patients rather than treating them (Bonderud, 2021). According to Deloitte, digital medicine
technologies, such as telemedicine, provide potential to become more patient-centered, affect
patient outcomes, and provide real-world data for healthcare organizations (Bonderud, 2021).
Patients can become more active in their own treatment through telehealth, which helps to
guarantee that their needs and ideals are being addressed. In addition to facilitating access to
treatment, telehealth empowers patients by granting them greater control over their own care and
by improving communication with healthcare practitioners.
Quality Improvement
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The purpose of implementing telehealth services is to enhance the overall quality and safety
of treatment provided to patients (Nelson et al., 2018). In order to fulfill the requirements of
today's healthcare customers and to improve the delivery of healthcare, telehealth is being used
(Alvandi, 2017). In order to improve the quality of healthcare, telehealth programs aim to
increase availability and effectiveness by boosting clinical assistance, lowering the need to travel
for treatment, and improving patient outcomes (Alvandi, 2017). Telehealth has been shown to
improve illness prevention, treatment, and management, as well as patient outcomes and
satisfaction, according to the research.
Teamwork and Collaboration
The success of a telehealth program is dependent on the collaboration of a large number
of people working together. This is because not only does an effective telehealth program involve
collaboration between patients and providers, but it also requires a team to ensure that the
program is successful (Nelson et al., 2018). The healthcare system is frequently plagued by
adverse occurrences, with collaboration being one of the most significant factors. Providers can
get closer to patients through telehealth than they could ever get in a traditional clinical
environment (Nelson et al., 2018)..
For a program like this to be successful, it requires a complex informatics team to put it
together and get it up and running quickly. This group is critical in educating physicians on how
to use the software in order to get the greatest possible patient results (Nelson et al., 2018).
Because there may be telehealth encounters that do not require the presence of a physician, it
takes a tremendous level of collaboration between the physician and other healthcare
professionals. To communicate with patients about their needs and to offer them with the greatest
possible quality of care, coordination between the physician and these other providers is essential
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to success. A high-quality team leads to improvements in healthcare processes and patient
outcomes, as well as a reduction in the number of adverse occurrences in the hospital. Butler and
colleagues (Butler et al., 2019)
Safety
The function of telehealth programs in the implementation of our existing healthcare
delivery system is well-established in our society. Telehealth programs can aid in the detection
and treatment of chronic illnesses. In addition, they enable for the treatment and management of
various disorders in a low-cost and effective fashion (Li & Childs, 2021). Many chronic
conditions necessitate a series of medical appointments. Patients will find it more convenient to
participate in these sessions now that telehealth has been implemented, and they will not be
overwhelmed by the number of appointments they will have to travel to as previously. Many
studies have found that telehealth services can also assist to minimize mortality and the
frequency of prescription mistakes in the community (Li & Childs, 2021). A telehealth program's
safety should be checked on a regular basis, including verifying that it is safe along the program's
continuum, conducting safety testing, and adopting quality and safety requirements that are
similar to those found in the clinical environment (Li & Childs, 2021).
Informatics
Telehealth initiatives have accelerated the transformation of our healthcare delivery
system. Individuals are obtaining the essential healthcare they require and deserve at a faster rate
than ever before. Telehealth initiatives have had a positive effect on our healthcare system.
Telehealth has evolved from an experiment to a new mode of healthcare delivery (Haupeltshofer,
et al., 2020). Telehealth and telemedicine are critical components of health informatics. They
contribute to closing the gap between individuals and healthcare access. Nurse informaticists
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apply their clinical expertise and knowledge to find the technology that is most appropriate for a
patient's requirements. They found that remote therapy was the best method for doing this.
Informatics plays a significant role in the creation of telehealth services and in educating people
about effective program use (Haupeltshofer, et al., 2020). These informaticists are critical in the
implementation of telehealth services, since they build and manage the systems necessary to treat
patients remotely.
Digitalization is the future, but it challenges nursing. Also, health literacy is increasingly
related to digital use (Haupeltshofer, et al., 2020). Any telehealth program's effectiveness
requires informatics nurses. The term nursing informatics was developed in 1976 and has
subsequently been defined and characterized (Haupeltshofer, et al., 2020). Nursing informatics is
a field that promotes the integration of data, information, and knowledge to help patients, nurses,
and other professionals make choices. Previously, nurses could only consult and instruct over the
phone. They have been trained and can now properly monitor and communicate with patients in
a number of technology situations, too (Haupeltshofer et al., 2020). Informatics-trained nurses
can aid in two ways. Their knowledge of the area and surroundings may help develop a
successful program. The need for healthcare professionals and patients to have access to
complete and reliable information is growing (Haupeltshofer et al., 2020). Informatics nurses
enable healthcare facilities to be proactive in improving the environment for both the nursing
department and the patients (Haupeltshofer et al., 2020). A successful program relies on the
experience and knowledge of nurses who provide direct patient care.
Health IT Policies
In order to govern the delivery of care in our healthcare system, rules are put in place to
guide the process. These policies aid in the definition of priorities in the delivery of healthcare.
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There are a variety of obstacles that must be overcome in order to provide cost-effective and
efficient healthcare. The development of healthcare policies is then undertaken in order to tackle
these issues and improve the overall quality and safety of our health-care delivery system. As a
result, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has increased its access to
telehealth treatments in recent years, allowing policyholders to obtain a broader range of services
without having to go to a healthcare institution or organization (CMS, 2021). The Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) formerly only paid for telehealth facilities in certain
circumstances where the patient lived in a remote region with limited access to clinical and
hospital services (CMS, 2021). Government entities, including as the VA, NASA, and the
Department of Defense, continue to be leaders in telehealth research and program creation in the
United States (Nelson et al., 2018). The Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (OAT), a
component of the Office of Rural Health Policy of the United States Department of Health and
Human Services, was established by the United States government (Nelson et al., 2018). The
Office of Applied Technology encourages the adoption of telehealth programs by formulating
policies to facilitate access to high-quality health-care services.
Ethical Considerations
While telehealth programs have the potential to improve our healthcare system, there are
significant ethical issues to address. Consider the following ethical implications: a breakdown of
the patient-physician connection, a possible danger to patient privacy, and giving the same care
in a variety of clinical scenarios (Pollard, et. al., 2017). A face-to-face interaction is often
necessary to create a trustworthy doctor-patient connection. Patients can create a connection with
the physician via face-to-face interactions, which enables the provider to gather the essential
history and physical examination of the patient (Pollard, et. al., 2017). In a telemedicine
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situation, a patient may lack the confidence necessary to provide detailed information about their
medical history. Without doing so, the physician may overlook critical information that would
enable them to provide their patients with adequate treatment and care. Telehealth is a relatively
new concept, and as these programs develop, patients may become more comfortable with e-
visits. However, it is critical to address patients' concerns about their connections with their
physicians in order to continue providing high-quality, safe treatment (Pollard, et. al., 2017).
Patient privacy is a significant ethical concern. Individuals may be unaware of who they
are chatting with and sharing their personal and medical information with while communicating
with healthcare professionals online. Various providers participate in telehealth by utilizing a
number of different technologies in a variety of different locations. This creates the possibility of
a compromise in the provider's network and equipment, putting the patient's privacy at risk.
When implementing a new telehealth program, it is critical to establish a privacy plan to
safeguard the patients' health and safety (Pollard, et. al., 2017).
Finally, patient treatment is tailored to the person. Because no two patients are identical
and no two patients can be treated identically, it is critical to incorporate variety into the
execution of a telehealth program. Patient treatment should be tailored to the patients' unique
circumstances and requirements (Pollard, et. al., 2017). When it comes to telehealth, it is critical
to ascertain the patient's preferences and preferred method of learning. Some patients may have
internet access, while others may not. Certain persons may lack the necessary technology or
health literacy to utilize a telehealth program successfully. Finally, some patients simply prefer
traditional care and prefer a face-to-face appointment over an e-visit.
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Organizational Benefits
At their inception, telehealth programs were designed to give treatment to patients who
had limited access to traditional healthcare. As time has passed, the number of telehealth
programs has expanded, and it is now considered normal practice in many healthcare institutions.
Patients' results, patient happiness, and healthcare expenses have all improved in recent years,
which has contributed to a rise in the number of telehealth programs being implemented
(Gajarawala et al., 2021). Telehealth initiatives may be the difference between failure and
success for businesses. Telehealth systems help to reduce medication errors, avoid needless
emergency department visits, and keep patients in the hospital for longer periods of time
(Gajarawala et al., 2021). An organization's ability to provide resources and care to patients
living in rural areas will be enhanced by the implementation of a telehealth program. This will
allow them to provide access to specialty providers while reducing travel and waiting times. This
will also reduce the strain on healthcare systems while decreasing healthcare costs while
improving the quality, safety, and efficiency of care (Gajarawala et al., 2021). One of the most
obvious advantages of having a telehealth program in place at a business is that it needs few
resources to put in place and maintain (Jin et al., 2020). Patients and providers just only a
computer, smartphone, or tablet with microphone and camera capabilities in order for an
organization to be able to deliver telehealth services to their patients.
Conclusion
It is written in the Bible in Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider how we may spur one
another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the
habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
[ CITATION Hol11 \l 1033 ]. Christianity is not a faith that God intends to be practiced just by
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one person. The act of encouraging others, as well as receiving encouragement from others, is
essential in the life of a devoted Christian. This section is intended to encourage Christians to be
confident, courageous, and encouraged as they live out their faith. It is anticipated that the usage
of telehealth/telemedicine will increase and continue to spread in the future years as a result of
technical advancements and as people become more aware of the convenience and simplicity of
adopting this kind of health care. Although there are several obstacles to overcome over the
course of a telehealth program's development and maturation, the long-term benefits can be
enormous. Putting this in place will dramatically boost access to convenient, high-quality care
and ease of accessible while also increasing patient education and resulting in cost savings for
both the patient and the institution that implements the system.
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References
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