Developing a Virtual Nursing Team to Support Predictive Analytics and Gaps in Patient Care.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare innovation
• Clinical informatics
• Patient safety

Background:

• A 21-hospital system implemented a predictive analytic scoring system requiring 24-hour surveillance.
• Gaps in patient care were identified, necessitating workflow integration and innovation.
• A remote Virtual Nurse team was developed to manage predictive alerts and capture care gaps.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a predictive analytic scoring system.
• To integrate workflows for 24/7 patient care surveillance.
• To innovate patient care through a dedicated Virtual Nurse team.

Main Methods:

• A remote Virtual Nurse team, composed of master's-prepared nurses, was established.
• Nurses were assigned to two workflows: predictive analytic monitoring and e-Hospital care gap capture.
• The team provided 24/7 coverage across the hospital system.

Main Results:

• The program resulted in 169 lives saved.
• An observed-to-expected mortality ratio of 0.8 was achieved.
• Standard workflows were improved, facilitating the implementation of Rapid Response Teams in all hospitals.

Conclusions:

• The Virtual Nurse team's success has led to plans for expansion into other regions.
• The team has grown to 40 nurses and is projected to expand further.
• The program demonstrates a scalable model for enhancing patient care through technology and dedicated nursing teams.