Healthcare systems are facing unprecedented challenges, with workforce shortages looming as a major concern. This issue is not just a matter of convenience; it's a critical threat to the delivery of quality patient care. The American Hospital Association (AHA), according to a research study they shared conducted by the Mercer consultancy and Lightcast, indicates a potential shortfall of approximately 100,000 critical health care workers by 2028, with some states like New York and New Jersey projected to experience acute shortages. While some projections indicate a slight surplus of Registered Nurses (RNs) nationally, some areas, particularly on the East Coast, may still face shortages.
This scarcity of healthcare professionals is not evenly distributed. States like California, Texas, and Pennsylvania are anticipated to manage with their labor supply, whereas others may struggle. This creates a need for innovative solutions to ensure that patient needs are met despite the uneven distribution of workforce.
How Remote Patient Monitoring Addresses Staffing Shortages
Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) emerges as a pivotal solution, leveraging technology to monitor patients' health remotely. RPM allows healthcare providers to track patient data in real time, without requiring in-person visits. This constant surveillance is achieved through devices like wearable health trackers and home medical equipment that transmit data to physicians, enabling timely interventions when necessary. RPM improves efficiency in patient care by:
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Reducing the need for in-person visits: RPM enables patients to manage chronic conditions from home, reducing the need for routine check-ups and allowing staff to focus on more urgent tasks.
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Improving resource allocation: By automating routine processes like vital signs monitoring, medication reminders, and symptom tracking, RPM optimizes staff allocation. This allows healthcare professionals to focus on critical cases that require immediate, hands-on care.
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Enhancing patient outcomes: Consistent monitoring through RPM enables early detection of abnormalities and interventions that may prevent conditions from worsening, reducing hospital readmissions. It also improves communication between patients and providers, which promotes adherence to treatment plans.
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Decreasing burnout among healthcare staff: By reducing the pressure on staff and allowing them to manage patient care more efficiently, RPM can lead to less burnout and improved job satisfaction.
The Challenge Remains: Staffing Shortages Persist
While RPM is a powerful tool, it is not a panacea for staffing challenges. Even with RPM, severe shortages, especially among RNs, can strain health systems. As the reporting from the AHA indicates, there may be a shortage of approximately 73,000 nurse assistants by 2028. These shortages require a solution to ensure that patients receive the attention they need.
CareConnect: Bridging the Gap and Providing Value
The growing value and desire for virtual nursing is evident, as it allows healthcare professionals to provide care remotely, addressing staffing shortages and improving patient outcomes. This is where CareConnect, a clinical service from Health Recovery Solutions (HRS), steps in. CareConnect provides Registered Nurse (RN) clinical monitoring and/or Nurse Practitioner (NP) clinical escalation of RPM patients and their data. This service offers a robust solution to mitigate clinical staffing shortages.
Here's how CareConnect works and the value it provides:
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RN Clinical Triage and Assessment: CareConnect RNs act as a first point of triage for all patient alerts, filtering out false positives and equipment issues, and escalating only true high-risk clinical issues. They also provide patient education on disease processes, diet, and medication adherence.
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NP Escalation of High-Risk Alerts: In 26 states, CareConnect includes NP escalation for timely interventions. NPs can prescribe medications, blood work, and imaging to avoid ED or urgent care visits, and they update the primary care physician of the care provided.
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Up to 24/7 Real-Time Monitoring: CareConnect provides real-time alert monitoring and triage, alleviating information overload for clinicians and focusing on a centralized team dedicated to patient care.
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Supplementing Staff and Reducing Burnout: CareConnect supplements existing staff, improving nurse retention and reducing burnout. By providing consistent and reliable staffing, it eliminates the risk of call-offs or PTO.
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Customizable Service Hours: CareConnect offers flexible service hour options to meet various needs, including weekend, business hours, or 24/7 monitoring, with NP on-call options available as well.
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Cost Savings and Improved Outcomes: Implementing CareConnect can result in lower yearly staffing costs. The service has also demonstrated improvements in patient adherence to care plans, decreased time spent on phone calls with patients, and reduced patient risks.
CareConnect Customer ROI Case Study:
A client of Health Recovery Solutions (HRS) participated in a case study that further highlights the value of the service.
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Before CareConnect Implementation:
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The HRS customer had a census of 75-85 patients on service per day, operating during 7-day business hours.
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35-45% of patients triggered high-risk alerts daily on average.
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The staffing included 1 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) RN focused on telehealth tasks such as contacting and managing high-risk patients, plus 1 FTE LPN for telehealth tasks, logistics, administrative duties and contacting nonadherent and high-risk patients.
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The total annual staffing cost was $169,000, including benefits.
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The trigger to explore CareConnect was the resignation of the full-time RN.
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After CareConnect Implementation:
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Staffing was reduced to 1 full-time LPN, who now receives escalations from the CareConnect team, contacts the MD or RN case manager as necessary, and manages logistics and administrative tasks.
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Clinical and case managers take escalations from CareConnect on the weekends with no additional FTE costs.
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The total annual staffing cost was reduced to $159,400, which included the cost of 1 full-time LPN and the CareConnect service, which was operating 7 days a week from 8 am to 5 pm.
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Key ROI Benefits Realized:
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Lower Yearly Staffing Cost: The customer reduced their annual staffing costs by $10,000.
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Consistent and Reliable Staffing: CareConnect provides consistent staffing, eliminating risks associated with call-offs and PTO.
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Improvement in Nonadherence: The service led to improved patient adherence to treatment plans due to reliable and scheduled check-ins with patients.
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Less Time Spent on Phone Calls: The customer's staff spent less time on phone calls with patients, freeing up their time for other important tasks.
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This case study demonstrates how CareConnect provides a solution that not only addresses staffing challenges but also delivers a significant return on investment, improves operational efficiency and improves patient care. By reducing staffing costs, ensuring consistent coverage, and enhancing patient adherence, CareConnect offers substantial benefits for healthcare providers.
Conclusion
In summary, the healthcare sector faces significant workforce shortages that impact patient care and staff well-being. Remote Patient Monitoring provides a valuable approach to enhance efficiency but is not a comprehensive solution in and of itself. CareConnect steps in to close critical gaps with RN and NP services, reducing costs, and improving patient outcomes. For hospital and health system leaders as well as clinical and financial managers of RPM programs, CareConnect represents a strategic move towards ensuring reliable and high-quality care amidst ongoing staffing challenges.