The Providence health system has revolutionized healthcare delivery with its acute care telemedicine service, catering to its 51 hospitals and other healthcare facilities across eight states. This innovative program brings specialists and high-demand providers virtually to the hospital bedside, ensuring quality care for all hospitalized patients within the Providence ecosystem.
The Challenge:
Access to specialists within hospitals is crucial for optimal patient outcomes, but the ongoing workforce crisis poses a significant challenge in staffing these high-demand positions. Factors such as physician burnout, an aging population of physicians, and unfilled residency programs contribute to the shortage of specialized healthcare providers. As patient populations age and new treatment options emerge, the demand for specialists continues to rise.
Meeting the Challenge:
To address these challenges, Providence developed the Virtual Acute Care program over the past decade. This program focuses on enabling Providence providers to deliver care at the patient’s bedside, seamlessly integrating with existing workflows and protocols. By utilizing virtual care technology, Providence ensures that specialists and high-demand providers can reach any hospitalized patient in their service area, regardless of geographic location.
The Proposal:
The Virtual Acute Care program at Providence prioritizes high-quality, mission-based care by utilizing Providence providers who meet strict employment and service standards. By leveraging economies of scale within the health system, Providence ensures operational scalability while accommodating the unique requirements of each hospital. Customized clinical design processes optimize workflows to meet the specific needs of each facility, while maintaining Providence standards of care and governance.
Results:
The Providence Virtual Acute Care program has evolved into a comprehensive and scalable service, with over 250 acute care clinicians delivering care in more than 100 sites across eight states. The program offers a range of telemedicine services, including tele-stroke, tele-neurology, tele-psychiatry, and tele-critical care, among others. These services have significantly improved patient outcomes, reduced transfer rates, and enhanced access to specialized care for patients in need.
Advice for Others:
Providence’s success in virtual care highlights the critical role of telemedicine in mitigating clinician shortages and improving patient access to care. Embracing flexibility in healthcare delivery is essential for meeting the evolving needs of patients and providers. By prioritizing quality care while ensuring scalability, healthcare organizations can effectively leverage virtual care technologies to enhance patient outcomes and streamline clinical operations.
In conclusion, Providence’s Virtual Acute Care program serves as a model for innovative healthcare delivery, demonstrating the transformative impact of telemedicine on patient care and provider support.
