PocketRN Publishes Clinical Study Highlighting Efficacy of Novel Virtual Nursing Care Model

PocketRN is proud to share that the findings of our clinical study, in conjunction with Stanford Healthcare, have been published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research. Read the paper, "A Nurse-Led Care Delivery App and Telehealth System for Patients Requiring Wound Care: Mixed Methods Implementation and Evaluation Study," here.

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About the Study

PocketRN launched a clinical study in partnership with Stanford Health Care in July 2021. During the study, Stanford nurses used the PocketRN virtual nursing platform and novel care delivery model to manage a variety of after-hour patient visits via video chat. These visits included patient-initiated visits to address questions, proactive check-ins to monitor patients and promote care plan adherence, and 48-hour post-op visits to reinforce education and ensure patients were recovering. The study was implemented in both the Advanced Wound Care Center and Vascular Clinic. The study aimed to demonstrate safety, quality, feasibility, and positive provider and patient experience while reducing the administrative burden on in-person staff, integrating with existing clinic workflows, and giving patients access to additional resources and support. The study's preliminary findings also show early indications of improved patient outcomes and reduced total cost of care.

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Efficacy of Novel Nurse-Led Care Delivery Model

The study has shown that PocketRN's novel care delivery model has tremendous benefits for patients, caregivers, nurses, and specialty providers. While working from home, nurses can coach and give patients undivided attention in a comfortable environment, reinforcing education. Caregivers or home health nurses—who might not have been present at the original appointment—are invited to participate in the care received on PocketRN. Wrapping around the caregiver in this way decreases patient anxiety, increases patient and caregiver confidence in managing their care, and ultimately improves outcomes.

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Benefits of PocketRN’s Virtual Nursing Care Delivery

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Enhanced patient experience: 

• 98% patient and nurse satisfaction: More time for patients and their loved ones to connect with clinical providers during times outside of regular clinic hours when questions and concerns arise

• 20 vs 5 average minutes spent with patient (on PocketRN vs. clinic phone line): Meet patients where they are by gaining additional insights from conversations in the home about what matters to them most and identifying barriers 

• 85% of visits were from patients proactively managing their care: A more proactive approach that engages patients and promotes continuity of care

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Better Outcomes

• Clinical and condition-specific (Specialized) care processes: 90% vs 60% Success rate with 48 Hr Post-op follow-up calls 

• Nurses had more time to spend doing coaching and education in the home, where many patients learn best: "The patients I talk to (even though we do discharge teaching, discharge summary stuff), as I mentioned, once they go home, those discharge summary papers, [they go] somewhere else. And I usually ask them, 'Do you still have that discharge summary education paper with you?' Eight out of 10 [times], they don't have it with them. So that's why ... What they mean is they don't follow the instruction[s]. It's difficult because that discharge summary instruction paper has everything ... what they need to do. That means [the] majority people are not compliant with it." [Nurse 9]

• Higher quality of care with video visits instead of phone calls: Nurses noted that the format of a teleconference allowed for higher quality of care. "Oh, that's what you look like. It's good to see your face, too." [Nurse 5] 

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Reduced Costs

• 10 hours saved per nurse per week: Save time for the in-person staff by allowing nurses to be more efficient with their time while on an in-person service (by separating work that could be done virtually from in-person work) 

• 20% escalation driving more efficient load balancing of the most specialized care teams: Escalate from general nurse to specialty nurses when needed only 20% of the time 

• 30% of patients avoided ED visits: Proactive nursing care that increased continuity of care reduced ED admissions 

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Improved Clinician Experience

• Provide alternative working options for new nurses: All nurses were successfully able to work remotely from home

• Mobilize on-the-bench nurses to work remotely: 2 nurses without an option to work in-person were able to provide clinical care

• Reduce burnout by allowing nurses to work at top of license, and focus on the patient care and education–which they truly enjoy: 98% patient and nurse satisfaction

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