In addition to what has been shared, we are seeing early indications of improvement in length of stay, which can easily be translated into financial impact. We are additionally tracking expense savings related to less PPE utilization, especially for isolation patients, this savings can add up.
When doing a cost justification, it is important to identify your “categories” and assemble your “baseline” data to identify your potential opportunities. Here are some measures to consider. First category is patient outcomes – reducing patient safety issues such as falls, pressure ulcers, medication reconciliation, and hospital acquired infections – to name a few. A second category is patient experience – using publicly report patient satisfaction results. And the final category is perhaps thee most important, nursing satisfaction. This can be measured through survey results of nurses and other bedside care providers as well as a reduction in turnover. For cost justification, including all three areas, is the most powerful. Virtual nursing qualifies for the triple crown – a win-win-win!
