Telehealth- Redefining Healthcare Delivery Therapeutic Communication and the Nurse Practitioner-Patient Relationship

The Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) defines telehealth as the distribution of information and other health-related services using electronic media alongside other telecommunication technologies.  Some of the common examples of telehealth activities that typically extend beyond remote clinical care include wearable devices responsible for recording and transmitting vital signs, clinician-to-clinician communications, and healthcare education. Edelman and Kudzma (2017) affirm that the use of telehealth services continues to be instrumental in addressing the issue of healthcare inaccessibility for individuals residing in geographically isolated areas by promoting clinician contact, monitoring, reminders, education, and admissions.

Several publications have proven that the level of satisfaction with healthcare services delivered through telehealth remains high among patients and providers.  For instance, Moffet & Dimentberg’s (2017) study established that evidence-based psychotherapies that are provided through telehealth for veterans who have post-traumatic stress disorder were highly accepted and valued at the same level as in-person services. One reason that the author suggests that the high levels of satisfaction are due to proper telehealth etiquette, whereby therapeutic communication centres mainly on the patient. For instance, providers are encouraged to eliminate clinic or office noise alongside personal objects that may interrupt and block the camera’s view. Furthermore, the empathy that is normally conveyed in a telehealth setting is usually carefully constructed. Rather than using touch, clinicians tend to elect words that convey empathy. Besides, maintaining eye contact.

Conclusively, to adequately prepare nurse practitioners for their critical role as advocates in improving care outcomes, particularly in underserved regions, they ought to be taught about the effective use of telehealth services (Rutledge, 2017). These programs must equip nurse practitioners through the use of experiential learning, such as simulation. Notably, this would go a long way in ensuring that nurse practitioners develop the attitude, knowledge, and skills required to maximize telehealth utilization and eliminate the barriers linked with using telehealth in both primary and speciality care.

References

Top of Form

Edelman, C & Kudzma, E. C. (2017). Health Promotion Throughout the Life Span – E-Book. Philadelphia: Mosby.

Moffet, H. & Dimentberg, R. (2017). Patient Satisfaction with In-Home Telerehabilitation After Total Knee Arthroplasty: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial. Telemedicine journal and e-health: the official journal of the American Telemedicine Association, 23(2), 80–87. https://doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2016.0060