As Demand Grows, Telehealth Technology Is Evolving Nursing Jobs
Could the new generation of travel nurses visit their patients virtually? In this article, we examine how telehealth is helping to transform the traditional job role of nurses in the digital age.
The Healthcare Model Is Changing
In its 2020 US and Global Healthcare Outlook report, Deloitte covers a lot of ground, including innovation of the care model. Its conclusions include that, in an industry that is growing rapidly, healthcare strategies will be driven by:
- Cost pressures on traditional methods
- A shift to prevention and well-being
- Increasing consumer demands around convenience, access, and personalization of products and services
- Consumers’ increased access and control over personal health data
Healthcare providers will need to adapt for access, capacity, capability, and affordability, as well as providing healthcare beyond hospital walls.
Given these needs and demands, and the changing nature of healthcare, it is likely that increasing numbers of healthcare providers will invest heavily in telehealth capability. It’s cost-effective, provides easy access, and enables more efficient and effective scalability of services.
Demand for Travel Nurses Is Growing
The demand for nurses is already growing rapidly. The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts that employment in the healthcare industry will grow by 14% between 2018 and 2028. That’s the equivalent of 1.9 million new jobs – a rate of growth that is way faster than the average for all occupations.
Such high demand has already created a shortage in healthcare, and the recent COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated just how acute that shortage is. But it is not only COVID-19 that is causing a drain on resources. In the coming years, as baby boomers retire and age, the pressure on the healthcare sector is likely to increase.
Traditionally, hospitals and other healthcare providers have employed travel nurses to address their staffing issues. Increasingly, though, telehealth strategies are being adopted to achieve more efficient patient care.
The Benefits of Telehealth
Telehealth technology can be used in healthcare facilities and in patients’ homes to monitor the condition of patients. This allows nurses to monitor many patients simultaneously, with the following benefits included:
- In the hospital setting, nurses no longer need to walk from room to room
- Patients who are recovering from surgery can do so in the comfort of their own home, monitored 24/7
- With fewer patients requiring hospitalization post-treatment, beds and hospital resources are freed up and more patients can be treated
- Nurses can monitor a patient’s vitals remotely, remind them to take their medication, and help them achieve their long-term health goals more effectively
Using technology, nurses save time and provide high levels of personalized service. In addition, the potential for cross-infection is reduced. Re-admission rates are reduced, and healthcare facilities can manage their resources more effectively.
Telehealth Is Evolving the Nursing Role
Utilizing rapid advances in telehealth technology, hospitals and other healthcare facilities are adapting how they work. Digital processes enable nurses to do more with less stress and reduce workplace health and safety issues.
Travel nurses who have the ability and experience to work in highly digitalized hospitals are likely to be in high demand. We are already seeing increased numbers in primary care conducted by tele visit. It may not be long before we see travel nurses working from their homes, monitoring patients in their homes or in the hospital.
If you are a travel nurse and you’re looking for your next role, contact Telehealth Gigs today. We have dozens of employers and hundreds of jobs available now.
