Avel Critical Care
How Telemedicine Helps Address the Nursing Staff Shortage, assists ICUs and Local Care Teams
During COVID-19, the healthcare industry not only faced unprecedented patient volumes, but a shortage of qualified registered nurses as well. Many health systems had to take action to cover gaps in care, as Heidi Merriman, Critical Care Nurse Manager at Avel eCare addresses in her recent Daily Nurse article.
“Many hired travel nurses, but it wasn’t the ideal solution to the problem. The salary disparities were unsustainable for health systems, drawing sharp criticism from employed nurses doing the same jobs for significantly less money,” said Merriman.
“The resentment affected both employed and contracted nurses, further eroded morale in a challenging time, and even prompted some employed nurses to leave their positions and take up more lucrative travel spots, perpetuating the cycle of staffing shortfalls.”
Using interactive video, decision-support software and remote monitoring technology, Avel’s Critical Care services supports local care teams, allowing them to respond faster when a critical change occurs.
The resulting interventions not only save lives and limit staff burnout, they limit mounting healthcare costs, too.
“Health systems continue seeking innovative ways to trim unnecessary spending while supporting optimal patient care,” said Merriman. “Virtual command centers can improve patient care and sustain workforce morale without breaking the bank.”
