Healthcare professionals are increasingly turning to virtual nursing and sitting solutions to combat staff shortages, according to the KLAS Virtual Sitting & Nursing 2023 report. This study found that 98% of surveyed professionals considered these solutions vital for their long-term plans. Virtual sitting allows remote patient monitoring, reducing adverse events, while virtual nursing aids bedside nurses with tasks like discharge planning. Specific solutions, like AvaSure and Collette Health, received high praise. While cost concerns were noted, these solutions are seen as valuable tools in alleviating staffing issues in the healthcare industry.
A recently released report from KLAS sheds light on how virtual nursing and sitting platforms have become a beacon of hope for healthcare professionals grappling with staff shortages.
Healthcare practitioners are increasingly expressing their contentment with virtual nursing and sitting solutions, highlighting their positive impact on staffing issues, according to the inaugural KLAS Virtual Sitting & Nursing 2023 report. This comprehensive study delved into the experiences and outcomes of healthcare organizations employing virtual nursing and sitting platforms. Notably, virtual sitting software enables healthcare facilities to remotely monitor patients, thus averting adverse events, while virtual nursing software empowers off-site nurses to engage in tasks such as discharge planning and documentation, offering valuable support to bedside nurses. Both of these solutions typically incorporate in-room video and audio hardware.
To compile the report, researchers conducted interviews with healthcare professionals over a year, employing KLAS’s established quantitative evaluation framework for healthcare software. This encompassed 16 numeric rating questions and four yes/no inquiries.
Out of the 43 healthcare professionals surveyed, a resounding 98 percent affirmed that their existing virtual nursing and virtual sitting solutions were integral to their long-term strategic plans. Furthermore, among the 39 respondents who addressed the impact of these solutions on staffing shortages, 59 percent attested to a highly positive effect, while 28 percent reported a moderately positive influence. Only 13 percent remained neutral on the subject.
The report notes, “Organizations have enhanced their patient observation capabilities, transitioning from a 1:1 sitter-to-patient ratio to a model where a single sitter can monitor multiple patients. This shift has liberated skilled clinical staff from sitting duties, allowing them to contribute their expertise more effectively elsewhere.”
In addition to these overarching findings, the report also delved into the performance of specific virtual nursing and sitting solutions. Notably, AvaSure garnered an impressive overall performance score of 89.7 on a 100-point scale, while Collette Health (formerly MedSitter) secured a commendable score of 89.4.
AvaSure’s solution primarily found use in virtual sitting, with customers lauding its capacity to drive tangible outcomes, scoring it at 8.1 on a scale of 1 to 9. Customers cited reduced patient falls and decreased tube/line interferences as key benefits. A noteworthy 72 percent of customers commended AvaSure for not nickel-and-diming them for every minor aspect, although this percentage fell slightly below the average across all KLAS software evaluations.
However, the report also voiced concerns among AvaSure users about the system’s cost, with some feeling they were charged excessively for cameras and essential equipment. Most customers intended to retain their AvaSure solution but emphasized the importance of managing ongoing costs related to equipment longevity, replacement, and scalability.
Likewise, a majority of Collette Health customers deployed the platform for virtual sitting, reporting reduced patient falls and improved staffing shortage management. While the vendor received high ratings for phone/web support quality and the functionality of its products, some customers expressed a desire for enhanced reporting and analytics capabilities.
The KLAS report also briefly touched on other solutions from providers like Care.ai, Vitalchat, and Watcher, although insufficient data hindered a comprehensive assessment of customer experiences and outcomes for these offerings.
These findings align with recent research highlighting the growing interest in virtual nursing. A separate survey conducted by Joslin Insight on behalf of AvaSure revealed that 75 percent of healthcare professionals view virtual nursing as an avenue for recruiting nurses who may not be available for bedside work.
However, the survey also unveiled that 14 percent of respondents cited a lack of confidence in return on investment as the reason for their organization’s hesitation in implementing virtual nursing, despite 64 percent indicating that their organizations had either adopted or were considering the adoption of virtual nursing solutions.
