About the project
The Virtually Integrated Care model pairs experienced virtual registered nurses with bedside nurses and patient care assistants through online platforms to improve patient monitoring, streamline workflows and enhance family communication, hospital officials announced in a Nov. 4 news release.
“VIC is more than technology—it’s a new way to deliver compassionate, coordinated care,” Nursing Manager Lyzanne Mason said in the release. “The VIC nurses are unburdening our staff so the bedside care team can spend their time where it matters most.”
The program, which was launched Oct. 13, was introduced to the hospital’s medical-surgical unit.
The details
The touchscreen Virtual Care Delivery Platform is installed in patient rooms and unit areas, allowing connection between staff, patients and family members, hospital officials said in an email. Virtual nurses help with administrative tasks that can take over an hour of a bedside nurse’s time—allowing them to focus on clinical care.
According to the release, the program aims to assist hospital staff by:
- Optimizing nursing workflows
- Enhancing safety and patient-centered care
- Improving equity and communication
- Supporting retention and resilience
VIC emerged after a 2012 study by Kathleen Sanford and the Catholic Health Initiative’s Institute for Research and Innovation explored technological solutions to address health care challenges, Julie Tuel, CommonSpirit Health's System vice president, said in an email. The program allows bedside staff to enhance communication with both the patient and families.
Over 900,000 nurses will leave the nursing field by 2027, with over 60% frustrated with their workloads, making change necessary now, she said. VIC assists in unburdening the bedside care team by helping meet key patient care needs.
What’s next
Although the program initially began on the hospital’s fifth floor, the model is actively expanding to the fourth floor and other Texas locations, per the release.
