Telehealth nursing ( first part ) بالانجليزية

                                                                                      

         The significance of telehealth has been highlighted, particularly during pandemics like the one caused by the Coronavirus. Videoconferencing has been used to care for COVID-19 patients, link them with their families, enable non-COVID-19 patients to get treatment without having to go to healthcare facilities, and protect healthcare workers. Therefore, it is necessary to re-evaluate the current status of nursing in relation to telehealth. It is necessary to accept and adapt to this new approach, preparing nurses to not only supporting telehealth initiatives, but to lead the way in integrating it into healthcare. Nurses as well should strive to improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and implementation of telehealth, which is becoming a crucial method for delivering healthcare services with room for growth. Telenursing, a subset of telehealth, involves using of electronic technologies to provide long-distance healthcare services, patient education, public health, and health administration. It is necessary for nurses to be trained to utilize these technologies. 

         Telehealth technologies commonly used include live video conferencing, asynchronous or store-and-forward technology, remote patient monitoring, mobile health, and digital transmission. Live video conferencing allows healthcare providers to meet virtually with patients using smartphones or tablets.  It is most appropriate for consulting, performing mental health assessments, and diagnosing minor illnesses. Asynchronous technology enables storing health information for later viewing by other providers. Remote patient monitoring (RPM) refers to any technology designed to monitor a patient's medical conditions, like vital signs, blood sugar, and heart rate. It allows healthcare professionals to monitor patient health information without requiring multiple appointments. Mobile health (mHealth) refers to healthcare services provided through smartphones or other mobile devices, permitting patients to utilize applications that offer health information and track health choices, like calorie intake and exercise. Lastly, digital transmission: enables healthcare providers to access and review scans, patient videos, and charts remotely from virtually any location. In order for patients to deal with these technologies, nurses will be responsible for educating patients on how to use these technologies, managing patient data and coordinating virtual appointments with providers. 

           Utilizing telehealth can benefit patients by improving patient outcomes, providing care in remote areas, facilitating transitions of care, supporting end-of-life care, reduce hospital readmissions, and managing chronic conditions while increasing patient engagement. Telehealth saves patients time and money while reducing provider costs and decreasing wait times. Telehealth also allows nurses to provide more personalized care by offering real-time communication and support. Palliative care patients can greatly benefit from the use of telehealth services. Through remote patient monitoring, tele palliative care nurses can closely track symptoms and provide better care management. Real-time monitoring allows nurses to quickly intervene and help patients recover their comfort levels. Additionally, tele palliative care nurses can be alerted in advance about a patient's impending death, ensuring their presence during this critical time.

     Moreover,  utilizing telehealth can benefit nursing by elimination a lot of the administrative tasks that come with in-person appointments, like filling out paperwork and setting up the exam room. This allows nurses to focus on providing personalized care, such as reviewing lab results and educating patients. Nurses with licenses in compact states can also expand their job options by providing telehealth services to patients in other compact states. Nurses deliver and coordinate frontline care, and it helps them do their jobs more easily and effectively. Nurses can observe patients in their own surroundings and learn how their health is affected. It eases the nationwide nurse shortage by allowing nurses to see more patients. Lastly, telehealth can lower infection and illness exposure. As  a result, telehealth is expected to play a significant role in shaping the future of nursing.    

         Telehealth nursing provide preventive care, health maintenance, and care coordination across different stages of care. This type of nursing is needed in various settings such as primary care, acute care, chronic care, follow-up care, palliative care, and end of life care. These nurses can work in places like ambulatory care clinics, primary/specialty care facilities, schools, jails, and home health agencies.

        The American Telemedicine Association forecasts that more than half of healthcare services will be delivered online by 2030. Patients view telehealth as a regular component of their healthcare routine and are eager to continue utilizing it. Due to the significance and popularity of telehealth nursing, it is essential for nursing schools to incorporate training in this field for future nurses. 

 Read more, see the second part.......................

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