TELEHEALTH IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 1
Telehealth Implementation Plan
Author Note
This author has no known conflict of interest.
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Implementation
Once a needs assessment has been established and adopted it is necessary to begin the
design process with a project plan which will include tasks, important goals, and intended dates
of completion. User-friendly, easily understandable and adaptable technology will help the
provider with clinical decision making and enables the acceptance for use from the community
easier. It is important to implement one specialty at a time and work through any issues before
adding other specialties (Nelson & Staggers, 2018). The execution of a telehealth program,
especially in rural areas allow for patients to be triaged before physically going to an emergency
room (ER) and allows the screeners to indicate the necessity to seek medical attention.
Successful telemedicine programs are demarcated by the decrease in emergency room visits.
Patients can be screened in a greater amount through technology than those being seen physically
in the ER setting especially when the program provides 24/7 service, triaging those early
morning needs (Rademacher et al., 2019).
Prior to the implementation portion, many steps have been determined and a plan of
action has been put in motion. Finding providers of treatment, developing policy of procedures,
establishing how the technology will be brought to the rural communities, understanding, and
creating the means for the internet to be accessible and secure, technical support, and training
must be in place before implementation can begin. Scenarios can be practiced and refined prior
to beginning. An interdisciplinary team is developed from hospital leaders, clinical director,
technology administrator, project manager, technology engineer, and system administrator. All
are necessary to implement the program and contribute to policy creation, practices, and
evaluation measures (Nelson & Staggers, 2018).
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Getting the word out to the community is a vital component during the implementation
process. Utilizing various internet methods to broadcast the incoming telehealth program, its
process and benefits will allow the population to become accustomed to the idea, ask questions
and potentially familiarize themselves with the technology if others in their friends and family
circle are already using telehealth. According to Nelson and Staggers, social media is the best use
of marketing to the community, it is free and easily accessible by any electronic device. This type
of technology can be used to educate the population via video as to the use and convenience of
telemedicine and even allows individuals to ask questions (2018). The ease of educating the
population is an important component to the facilitation of the program.
Proficiency and training of the healthcare teams is an important aspect of the success of
implementing a telehealth program. Focused training creates confidence and ability to ascertain
concerns. The concentration of the training should encompass the patient’s perspective and the
telecare process. In person training is imperative and a hands-on approach will help facilitate the
training appropriately to keep the focus patient-centered and encourage good patient
relationships (Guise & Wiig, 2017).
While software and equipment play an important role in the success of telehealth
implementation the knowledge of using it to its fullest capacity is fundamental. Conducting
scenarios and working through identified issues in a timely manner helps the program stabilize
and the healthcare team gain confidence. Nelson and Staggers suggests utilizing sample patients,
conducting questions and exams that help providers become comfortable with the process,
equipment, and technology. They believe that jumping in and going through the process will help
the providers gain confidence, know where improvements are needed and develop a process to
TELEHEALTH IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 4
enhance and correct in real time (2018). As the provider and healthcare team’s knowledge
increases and improves the patient clientele will grow as they utilize this tool and become
familiar with its use.
Once the program is in place and running the postimplementation evaluation should
occur. This is a process that is necessary for growth that incites improvements and
acknowledgements of what is working well and where change is needed. This phase is
imperative to keep the program relevant and up-to-date and will include upgrades to enhance the
configuration which will eventually lead to expansion into different specialties (Nelson &
Staggers, 2018).
Health IT Policies
One of the most important policies that must be set forth with any kind of technology is
that of patient privacy. Policies must provide guidelines as to how patient information will be
delivered and how it will be maintained. Patients need to know how their privacy is protected
and how it will be handled. Electronic health records store a patient’s information that is
accessed by the patient and the healthcare team providing care. It is during the moments of
exchanging information via through internet use that HIPAA standards are observed. Another
avenue of necessary policies will include mode of payment and measurement of outcomes (Park
et al., 2018).
Ethical Considerations
Patients trust their providers to deliver quality of care, giving sound information,
respecting patient privacy and is obligated to continuity of care. Patient privacy and
confidentiality is a continual concern with this type of healthcare because of the seeming ease of
breaching an online system. There is an obligation to maintain the atmosphere of privacy
TELEHEALTH IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 5
including recommendations to patients with regard to websites for education or content. The
healthcare team must know that their recommendations will continue to protect the patient’s
privacy (Chaet et al., 2017).
Potential Benefits of Telehealth
Telehealth was utilized greatly during the Covid 19 pandemic and has become a standard
practice of care. Increased patient satisfaction, efficient and quality care, and lower costs are
some of the noted benefits of telehealth. Telehealth has a possible impact on medication misuse,
unnecessary ER visits, and decreasing hospitalization admissions. It provides resources,
efficiency of care, decreased wait times and stress, and reduced healthcare costs (Gajarawala &
Pelkowski, 2021).
QSEN
Quality and Safety Education for Nurses was created to assist in educating nurses. It is
aimed at teaching skills foundational in six competencies: patient and family centered care,
teamwork, evidence-based practice, quality improvement, safety, and informatics. The goal is
that the graduate nurse will be competent in the skillset and provide quality and individualized
care to the community they services (Disch & Barnsteiner, 2021).
Patient and Family Centered Care
Patient centered care allows the patient to have control over their care. The nurse is to be
respectful of the patient’s desires, values and needs. The nurse listens, clarifying when necessary
and noting the importance of the patient’s needs. Building the rapport between the healthcare
team and patient invokes trust that will help the patient achieve their healthcare goals (Quality
and Safety Education for Nurses [QSEN], 2020).
Teamwork and Collaboration
TELEHEALTH IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 6
Teamwork in the telehealth setting is important. Acknowledging each team members
assets helps the program run well. Open communication, partnership, and knowing the
population aids in the team working well together and having a successful telehealth program.
Working jointly with patients improves their outcomes, increases their knowledge through
improved education, and lessens their wait time. The healthcare team works collectively for a
common goal for each patient (QSEN, 2020).
Evidence-Based Practice
Knowing the current information that has been researched and tested is how telehealth
has become a popular option of healthcare. With research and examination, this type of
healthcare has become an option for many communities, especially those who are underserved
(Park et al., 2018). QSEN promotes optimized healthcare as long as it is proven to provide
improved and unencumbered patient outcomes.
Quality Improvement
Healthcare is a fluid entity and will always have need for improvements. With evidence-
based practice as a cornerstone of healthcare, it encourages growth and change for the better as
we discover better ways to improve the health of our communities and patients. Using data to
understand outcomes of telehealth programs will help with improvements and patient care.
Safety
Our goal as nurses is to provide safe care to our patients. Knowing our surroundings and
being aware of where hazards could arise is imperative especially with a telehealth program.
Patient safety is paramount and minimizing the risk of harm is necessary (QSEN, 2020). Being
conscious of safety risks in the telehealth world must be brought forth with immediacy in order
to investigate and evade any further future hazards (QSEN, 2020).
TELEHEALTH IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 7
Informatics
Informatics uses information and technology to connect, manage, avoid mistakes, and
assist in decisions (QSEN, 2020). Telehealth is informatics. When utilized to its fullest,
informatics provides accurate and accessible information for all parties involved. Utilizing
telehealth helps the patient truly have control over their care and makes them an intricate part of
their healthcare team.
Implementing a telehealth program in a rural, underserved community is a grand task and
can have many obstacles. With intricate planning and knowledge of where the potential
challenges are, recognizing that the benefits of this telehealth program will be significant in the
health of the community and its inhabitants. It will increase the populations accessibility to
affordable and convenient health care. As nurses it is our responsibility to remain relevant in all
angles of healthcare. As Christians, when we are knowledgeable and aid our community in the
new technology that will provide them with better care, we become advocates in the
advancement of the population’s health. This technology is much like the woman trying to touch
the hem of Jesus’ garment for healing. Telehealth moves the crowd and assists the patients with
better access to their healthcare team.
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References
Chaet, D., Clearfield, R., Sabin, J. E., & Skimming, K. (2017). Ethical practice in telehealth and
telemedicine. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 32(10), 1136–1140.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-017-4082-2
Disch, J., & Barnsteiner, J. (2021). Qsen in an amazon world. AJN, American Journal of
Nursing, 121(3), 40–46. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.naj.0000737176.16228.97
Gajarawala, S. N., & Pelkowski, J. N. (2021). Telehealth benefits and barriers. The Journal for
Nurse Practitioners, 17(2), 218–221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2020.09.013
Guise, V., & Wiig, S. (2017). Perceptions of telecare training needs in home healthcare services:
A focus group study. BMC Health Services Research, 17(1). https://web-s-ebscohost-
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Nelson, R., & Staggers, N. (2018). Health informatics: An interprofessional approach (2nd ed.).
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Park, J., Erikson, C., Han, X., & Iyer, P. (2018). Are state telehealth policies associated with the
use of telehealth services among underserved populations? Health Affairs, 37(12), 2060–
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Quality and Safety Education for Nurses. (2020). Qsen competencies. QSEN Institute.
https://qsen.org/competencies/pre-licensure-ksas/
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Rademacher, N., Cole, G., Psoter, K. J., Kelen, G., Fan, J., Gordon, D., & Razzak, J. (2019). Use
of telemedicine to screen patients in the emergency department: Matched cohort study
evaluating efficiency and patient safety of telemedicine. JMIR Medical Informatics, 7(2),
e11233. https://doi.org/10.2196/11233
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