Did you know that for every 100 telehealth nursing calls, you can save about $42,000 in unnecessary ER expenses? Telehealth nursing is a service that offers benefits far beyond traditional health care. We analyzed data over the course of a year and saw how this type of remote engagement was a powerful tool to get patients to the right providers. Here’s a summary of what we learned.
Telehealth Nursing Depends on Nurse Triage
Telehealth nursing wouldn’t be where it is without effective triage nurses. These are registered nurses who evaluate patient symptoms over the phone using triage protocols, then direct patients to the proper levels of care, from sending them to the ER to providing home care advice.
There is a greater need for triage nurses than ever before, evidenced by the staggering 93,000 patient requests in a seven-month period that our medical call center received.
It’s important to note the efficacy of these interactions:
- 2.7% of patients were advised to immediately contact emergency services.
- 26.8% required prompt medical attention, either through a telemedicine consultation or an emergency room visit.
- 73.2% of cases were deemed nonurgent and could be managed at home.
By empowering the vast majority of patients to manage their symptoms at home or schedule nonurgent medical appointments, TriageLogic was able to reduce unnecessary strain on emergency services.
Telehealth Empowers Physicians and Saves Lives
Telehealth nursing doesn’t just support patients; it also serves as a lifeline for physicians, especially so their patients can be assisted after normal office hours. Because our nurses were able to identify individuals who needed urgent care, they successfully steered approximately 12,500 patients to the ER. This meant health issues were properly addressed and treated when they otherwise could have been overlooked or delayed.
Patients with nonurgent requests also benefited from this guidance. Our data revealed that telehealth triage nurses could resolve nearly 75% of patients’ needs without immediate medical intervention, with 40% amenable to at-home care.
Telehealth Nursing Offers Cost Savings to Patients and Providers
Beyond improved health outcomes, telehealth nurses reduce medical costs. This is due to their ability to quickly help patients understand if their symptoms warrant provider visits, and which types of providers are best.
For example, our nurses averted over 12,000 unnecessary trips to the ER within our review period, creating substantial financial savings for both patients and providers: for patients, because they didn’t pay for expensive emergency care they didn’t need; and providers, who could focus on patients who were experiencing qualified medical emergencies.
Telehealth Nursing Empowers Decision-Making and Patient Education
One of the most profound benefits of telehealth nursing is its ability to empower patients to make informed decisions about their care.
As evidenced by some of the statistics above, we’ve seen how easy it is for patients to misunderstand the severity of their symptoms. Many will go to the ER needlessly, while others will stay home even when their symptoms are highly concerning.
There are a variety of reasons as to why this happens, but the bottom line is that nurse triage gives patients the certainty they may need about the best options for their care. Taking the guesswork out of the equation allows them to make better choices for their own health, rather than spend time, travel, and in-person effort to get the same information.
Expanding Access to Care Through Virtual Visits
Virtual visits are now replacing many preliminary consultations for health care in the United States, especially when physical evaluations are not needed. According to the National Library of Medicine (NLM), “the size of the US telehealth market rose to US $17.9 billion [in 2020] and is estimated to reach US $140.7 billion by 2030.” This shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering the demand for convenient and accessible healthcare options.
Rural communities, as well as those with patients who are underserved or unable to find transportation to their providers, may now have access to better care options because of telehealth nursing and nurse triage.
Improved Monitoring for Patients With Chronic Disease
Thanks to the development of remote patient monitoring (RPM), patients who are dealing with a chronic condition like diabetes can have their vitals continuously recorded and shared directly with their providers through wearable sensors.
Telehealth nurses and providers can then follow up with those patients through remote consultations to update patients on their conditions and direct them to the proper levels of care, as needed, if issues are detected.
Ensuring Long-Term Health and Wellness
Similar to RPM, telehealth nursing can promote long-term health and wellness for all patients through remote education. This connectivity allows nurses to develop trust and rapport with their patients, and ultimately help those patients understand and accept their recommended care.
Telehealth Nursing Paves the Way for Future Advancements in Care
Telehealth nursing offers your practice a substantial return on investment by creating a standardized method of symptom evaluation, offering wider access to care, generating heavy cost savings, and empowering your patients. Navigating challenges to your care — whether we’re talking large-scale medical events like COVID, or localized concerns within your community — will be easier when you utilize nurse telehealth services.
If you have questions about the material covered above, or about our available telehealth solutions, please contact us to schedule an introductory meeting.
About TriageLogic
TriageLogic is a URAC-accredited, physician-led provider of top-quality nurse telehealth technology, remote patient monitoring, and medical call center solutions. Founded in 2007, the TriageLogic Group now serves more than 22,000 physicians and covers over 42 million lives nationwide.
