After a successful dry run, Texas Health’s virtual patient observation program launched at two hospitals April 12.
The virtual companions, at right, who monitor via video patients who are at risk of falling, are housed at the Medical Command Center on the campus of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas. They are currently monitoring patients at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford and Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance, with plans to expand the program to other hospitals.
Julie Balluck, M.S.N., R.N., NEA-BC, chief nursing officer at Texas Health HEB, said hospital staff are excited to pilot the new technology.
“We are grateful that we have been given the opportunity to be one of the first Texas Health entities to use this system, which will allow our clinical staff to function at the top of their competence level and help protect our patients’ safety,” Balluck said. “As with any new technology, we have had a few kinks to work out, but the support we have received has really been appreciated and helpful.”
Mae Centeno, D.N.P., APRN, ACNS-BC, chief nursing officer, Virtual Care, said the program is going well and will be further honed based on lessons learned.
“We will continue to refine the processes so we can scale the program efficiently and effectively,” Centeno said. “Patient selection is critical to make sure the virtual patient companion is the right resource for monitoring and assisting with the patient’s safety.”
No positions will be eliminated by the new program, Centeno said.
“The virtual patient companions are new positions created especially for this program,” she said. “By decreasing the need for in-person sitters, we’re able to put those caregivers back into other areas of patient care that can be impacted when caregivers have to be placed at one patient’s bedside.”
