Telehealth Practice for All Patients Comprehensive Nursing Paper Example

Telehealth Practice for All Patients Comprehensive Nursing Paper Example

While the exclusive use of telehealth in psychiatric mental health care is essential, especially during and after the Covid 19 era, I feel there is a need to balance in-person and telehealth visits for all patients. According to Busch et al. (2021), as of October 2020, 41% of mental health and substance use disorder visits were conducted through telehealth. Additionally, up to 80% of patients receiving healthcare remotely were mental health patients (Reeves et al., 2021). The successful telehealth transition has helped improve access to mental healthcare, especially to patients who do not have geographical access to health providers qualified to address their conditions. (Telehealth Practice for All Patients Comprehensive Nursing Paper Example)

However, telehealth creates a digital division as some patients cannot access internet services while others encounter challenges to keep up with video visits (Reeves et al., 2021). In this regard, the elderly, ethnic minorities, and individuals living in poverty are often underserved, affecting the quality of health provided to these populations (Szobot, 2017). Therefore, it is best to balance in-person and telehealth visits for all patients. Specifically, mental health patients who are struggling with isolation suicidal thoughts and may cause harm to those around them need in-person visits for easier monitoring (Busch et al. 2021). A balance between these two forms of healthcare delivery will ensure equality between all patients.(Telehealth Practice for All Patients Comprehensive Nursing Paper Example)

Nonetheless, my experience in clinicals has been effective in preparing me for the use of telehealth platforms. I have interacted with different systems to address the patients’ needs with the help of registered nurses in the facility (Woolliscroft, 2020). I have mainly used these systems to check on the patient’s progress, offer therapies and change medication to patients. Our facility uses these systems on patients with mild symptoms while requiring those with severe mental health issues to visit the facility (Woolliscroft, 2020). I aim at using the knowledge and skills learned during practice to offer mental health services to patients who cannot access qualified mental health services in their geographical regions. It will help provide quality care to these patients promoting their quality of life.(Telehealth Practice for All Patients Comprehensive Nursing Paper Example)

References

Busch, A. B., Sugarman, D. E., Horvitz, L. E., & Greenfield, S. F. (2021). Telemedicine for treating mental health and substance use disorders: Reflections since the pandemic. Neuropsychopharmacology, 46(6), 1068-1070. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41386-021-00960-4(Telehealth Practice for All Patients Comprehensive Nursing Paper Example)

Reeves, J. J., Ayers, J. W., & Longhurst, C. A. (2021). Telehealth in the COVID-19 era: A balancing act to avoid harm. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 23(2), e24785. https://doi.org/10.2196/24785(Telehealth Practice for All Patients Comprehensive Nursing Paper Example)

Szobot, C. (2017). Treatment of substance use disorders. Treating and Preventing Adolescent Mental Health Disorders, 427-458. https://doi.org/10.1093/med-psych/9780199928163.003.0018(Telehealth Practice for All Patients Comprehensive Nursing Paper Example)

Woolliscroft, J. O. (2020). Innovation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. Academic Medicine, 95(8), 1140-1142. https://doi.org/10.1097/acm.0000000000003402(Telehealth Practice for All Patients Comprehensive Nursing Paper Example)

National Center for Biotechnology Information (nih.gov)