Parkview expanding virtual care initiatives
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Fort Wayne-based Parkview Health is expanding its virtual care efforts and consolidating the digital initiatives under one roof. The health system says it is combining care delivery, technology and support in one centralized location, Parkview’s Digital Care Center.
Parkview’s Virtual Care department, which provides 24/7 remote clinical support for all of Parkview’s hospitals, now operates out of the digital care center. The virtual care department is a clinical group of nurses and technicians who monitor inpatients across the Parkview system. The clinicians will notify bedside nurses if issues arise, such as early signs of sepsis.
“The addition of virtual nurses and virtual care technicians allows our bedside staff to focus more exclusively on each patient’s needs. This team will maximize our resources and effectively monitor multiple inpatients to address their needs more quickly,” said Michelle Charles, Parkview Health’s chief nursing informatics officer.
Parkview says in the future virtual nurses can augment bedside care, including interacting with patients via the TV in their room, providing education and facilitating faster discharges.
The health system virtual care technicians are trained to use continuous video monitoring for patients at risk of falling or harm. The virtual sitting service requires a nurse’s order. Parkview says to respect patient’s privacy, the service does not record audio or video.