Rapid Development and Evolution of Outpatient COVID-19 Nursing Care Teams: Blending Technology and Nursing

ABSTRACT

Current knowledge of COVID-19 suggests outpatient disease management is appropriate for most infected individuals (Cohen & Blau, 2020). [...]many patients are successfully managed remotely with self-isolation and symptom management support (Geenhalgh et al., 2020). Because of this, nurses working in telehealth are uniquely positioned to assist with the care of these patients. The patient population included individuals who were well enough to remain at home with outpatient telehealth follow-up. Since the program's inception (March 19, 2020), care has been provided to more than 21,000 patients. Early in the program it was identified that patient care needs and individual symptom burden varied. [...]the use of a vended telehealth triage resource - already endorsed by the institution - was promoted as a tool to support symptom assessment and guide directions for home care and care escalation.