We’ll write everything from scratch Question  Discussion – Technology and Health Define telehealth as a health care delivery method. Explore therapeutic communication and the nurse practitioner-patient relationship in the setting of telehealth. Support your answer with evidence-based research.

Discussion – Technology and Health

Telehealth is a revolutionary healthcare delivery method that uses telecommunication technologies to provide medical services remotely. It enables healthcare professionals to diagnose, treat, and monitor patients from a distance. It overcomes geographical barriers and increases access to healthcare. Communication is achieved through the use of video conferencing, mobile apps, remote monitoring devices, and other digital platforms (Gajarawala & Pelkowski, 2021). Telehealth facilitates real-time interactions between healthcare providers and patients. It enhances convenience and efficiency in healthcare delivery.

An important aspect of telehealth is therapeutic communication. This refers to the effective exchange of information between healthcare providers and patients. Despite the physical separation, telehealth platforms are designed to support empathetic and compassionate communication (Walsh, 2020). It ensures patients feel heard and understood. Empathetic listening, nonverbal cues, and active engagement are vital components of therapeutic communication in telehealth. Healthcare providers must adapt their communication styles to suit the virtual environment.

The nurse practitioner-patient relationship is of paramount importance in telehealth. Nurse practitioners are crucial in providing primary care, diagnosing illnesses, prescribing medications, and providing health education through telehealth platforms (Salina & Winn, 2023). Building a trusting relationship with patients is essential as it impacts patient satisfaction, treatment adherence, and health outcomes. By employing effective communication skills, nurse practitioners can establish rapport. They can also elicit patients’ health histories, and address their concerns, even from a distance.

Telehealth offers several advantages in fostering a positive nurse-practitioner-patient relationship. Patients can access care from the comfort of their homes. This reduces the stress associated with traveling and long waiting times (Gajarawala & Pelkowski, 2021). The convenience of telehealth appointments may encourage patients to seek timely healthcare, preventing potential complications. Moreover, telehealth enables continuous monitoring of chronic conditions. This facilitates early intervention and personalized care plans; however, challenges exist in the telehealth context. Limited physical interactions might hinder the nurse practitioner’s ability to fully assess non-verbal cues. Moreover, technical issues or lack of familiarity with digital platforms could also lead to patient discomfort or communication barriers.

References

Gajarawala, S. N., & Pelkowski, J. N. (2021). Telehealth benefits and barriers. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners, 17(2), 218-221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2020.09.013

Salinas, R. C., & Winn, P. (2023). Team-Based Care: Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, and Physician Assistants. In Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine: A Guide for Practitioners (pp. 93-99). Cham: Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-28628-5_7

Walsh, J. A. (2020). Switching strategies: Using telehealth as an innovative virtual simulation teaching method. Nurse Educator, 45(6), 330. https://doi.org/10.1097/nne.0000000000001268