Skilled Nursing Facility-Telemedicine Partnerships Bring Better Care to Patients

In skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), the clinical team manages patients daily, but after-hours, when the medical director is unavailable, or attending physicians are off-duty, challenges arise. These evenings and weekends are critical times with fewer staff available, demanding swift decisions on urgent situations. Such decisions can significantly impact a patient's trajectory, determining whether they spend the next days in the hospital or stay in the facility. For instance, when a nurse contacts a doctor during the night due to a patient's distress, the doctor often opts for hospital transfer. While understandable, this disrupts the patient and family and raises the risk of complications. Teaming up with telemedicine providers ensures access to physicians expecting such calls, allowing for comprehensive patient evaluation and collaboration with onsite teams. This approach promotes in-place treatment if clinically appropriate and provides essential support, allowing the daytime team to rest while ensuring optimal patient care.