Trinity Health Ann Arbor Deploys Virtual Nursing Program to Improve Care Delivery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact:


Von Lozon


Pager: (248) 725-2400


von.lozon@trinity-health.org

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (January 18, 2024) – In response to the national nurse shortage, Trinity Health Ann Arbor has launched TogetherTeam Virtual Connected Care™, a unique team-based care model featuring three caregivers for each patient -- a direct care Registered Nurse (RN), an RN partner such as a Patient Care Technician (PCT) or a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN), and a virtual Registered Nurse (vRN).

Trinity Health's TogetherTeam Virtual Connected Care program enhances patient safety and quality of care by facilitating shared experiences and knowledge across a care team. The seamless integration of an RN partner and a vRN into a patient’s care team reduces many of the time-consuming, administrative responsibilities that often take RNs away from the bedside. The vRN supports the RN and the RN partner, both of whom are at the bedside, via a high-resolution camera that turns on when a patient gives permission for the vRN to enter the room via a camera. The patient can then interact with the vRN on their television screen. No part of the exchange is ever recorded to protect privacy. One key benefit of the vRN is that response times to patient care requests and questions is often much faster.

The vRN, who is a more seasoned RN with many years of experience, can handle many tasks remotely, such as answering patient questions, providing instructions, expediting discharges, updating medical records, documenting care, checking on medication adherence, contacting a physician on a nurse’s behalf, clarifying doctor’s orders, or contacting family members with condition updates. The virtual nurse can also perform detailed examinations using the advanced camera technology. This innovative approach allows the patients’ care team to provide more personalized care, respond to needs more quickly, and to collaborate more effectively with doctors, resulting in improved patient experiences and outcomes.

"Since launching TogetherTeam Virtual Connected Care at Trinity Health Ann Arbor, the experience for patients has been overwhelmingly positive," said Katy Hoffman, chief nursing officer at Trinity Health Ann Arbor, Trinity Health Livingston, and the Trinity Health Medical Center - Brighton. "This new care model gives highly experienced nurses in the vRN role a chance to pass along their knowledge to the next generation of bedside nurses, ensuring the future quality and safety of care."

"Virtual RNs are able to delve into charts, complete time-consuming administrative tasks and immediately answer patient and family questions," said Karin C. Montgomery, MSN, RN, director of Patient Care Services for Trinity Health Ann Arbor. "All this frees up time for bedside nurses to provide excellent direct patient care. Now, rather than waiting for a doctor or nurse to come into the room so they can ask questions, patients can simply hit a button and ask the vRN in the moment – that's a huge benefit."

Jamie Farmer, the daughter of a recent patient and a Trinity Health Ann Arbor nurse leader who specializes in surgery and trauma, believes strongly in the new team-based model. "Our family was comforted by having the TogetherTeam Virtual Connected Care nursing team care for my dad,” she said. “They were able to frequently check in on him virtually, answer his questions immediately and effectively manage his pain."

Farmer was familiar with the innovative Trinity Health care model and was excited to see it implemented in the Ann Arbor hospital, but still she was concerned her technology adverse father might not be onboard. That worry was quickly alleviated. "My dad owns a trucking company, still has a flip phone and is a very traditional guy,” she said. “Once he used the system, however, he told me it was the 'coolest thing,' because he could hit a call button and get his questions answered right away. That instant access to a nurse created so much peace of mind during a stressful time for my family.”

Trinity Health has successfully implemented TogetherTeam Virtual Connected Care on 50 units in 19 hospitals across 10 states – including units located inside Trinity Health Oakland and Trinity Health Grand Rapids.