Introduction
Recently, technologies have appeared in medicine, which greatly simplifies the process of providing care to patients and further care. They are intended for use in healthcare institutions to improve patient care and create value for the medical institution itself. One of such useful and advantageous innovations for patients and health organizations is TeleSitter technology. Training clinical personnel in this technology helps to facilitate nurses’ work while increasing healthcare efficiency.
This paper aims to create a project to train clinical staff in TeleSitter technology. After conducting a literary review, information will be provided justifying the value of introducing this technology into medical practice. The paper consists of an introduction, goal statement, project objectives, a review based on evidence, a formative and summative evaluation, a timeline of the conducted research and a conclusion.
Goal Statement
In order to implement the training program for medical workers, educational programs for teaching digital technologies in medicine is being introduced in many medical educational institutions. This project is expected to better understand how to present a new innovative technology into the practice of medical personnel. The focus area was patient care and supervision in medical institutions. Employees of the local hospital were selected as the population. The problem of introducing new technology can be solved with the help of specialized informative staff training.
Project Objectives
- Examine and evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation of the TeleSitter technology
- Select measures that are necessary to create the educational training for the medical staff
Evidence-Based Review
This review provides evidence-based support for carrying out the educational program about the TeleSitter for the medical employees. As the primary justification for the use of TeleSitter technology, many literary sources cite the argument that they prevent the number of falls in patients, which can lead to negative consequences. Alfonso (2021) states that they “lead to anxiety, discomfort, reduced healing, lengthier inpatient stays, and additional health-related problems” (p. 3). This innovation is a continuously operating virtual platform for patient safety, including a two-way camera and a speaker on a mobile device. Today, some medical institutions choose equipment permanently installed in the ward or portable, wall-mounted devices. This mobile option offers the flexibility and convenience of the system for installation next to beds where it is most needed (Keeling et al., 2020). Its advantage is that it provides remote monitoring of patients at risk of falling, helping medical organizations to improve patient safety by reducing the number of falls.
In the article, Remote Visual Monitoring During a Pandemic, the authors also justify using such technology in the conditions of global disease Covid-19. TeleSitter will avoid additional unwanted contact between patients and medical workers in order to avoid transmission of the disease. Thus, this device will improve the efficiency of medical care and reduce the likelihood of infection with the disease. Moser (2021) emphasized that the clinics need to “conduct a three-month pilot program utilizing portable monitoring devices for inpatient rooms with a centralized observation station” before implementing it fully in their practice (p. 1). Therefore, the education of medical staff must include the necessary practical module.
Another advantage mentioned during the analysis of the source is that a nurse trained to work with TeleSitter can simultaneously monitor several patients. The device can help in communication with both patients and nurses. Moreover, it can activate a message if the patient attempts to get out of bed, which helps prevent falls (Alger, n.d.). The aspect that needs to be also mentioned in the training program is that the mechanism of the Telesitter system is similar to the bed alarms (Akubuilo, 2020). This can be harmful because loud and unexpected sounds can negatively affect the patient’s condition. Work on this aspect is also valuable, so it is necessary to train medical personnel to warn patients about introducing this technology in their care and treatment.
Methodology
The first goal to study and evaluate the effectiveness of the introduction of Telesitter technology was achieved by the paper’s author using the qualitative research method of sources based on the evidence relying on previous studies. In the same way, the following object of study was achieved: measures necessary for the creation of educational training of medical personnel. Based on the information received, it was concluded that it is necessary to conduct training and use the technology to test patients to understand its effectiveness. The project’s objectives will be achieved when the knowledge gained is confirmed in practice through further study of the results.
Formative Evaluation
The formative evaluation of the project can be carried out a week after the start of staff training. It is believed that it is already possible to determine how transparent and understandable the new technology of patient care is for medical personnel at this stage. Verification of the progress of the project can be carried out utilizing a survey of its participants. The assessment results will be used for possible adjustments to the course of training and the introduction of additional information. In addition, they will show which parts must be removed. The absence of significant changes will be considered an indicator of the successful proceeding of the project.
Summative Evaluation
The final assessment will be carried out at the end of the practical test part of the technology application. It is planned to conduct a final survey that will give feedback from medical professionals and patients participating in the research on the usefulness and convenience of TeleSitter technology. The evaluation results will also be used to change some aspects of the educational program. Moreover, they can be implemented in further studies about the introduction of innovation in hospitals.
Timeline
The project is scheduled to take place over eight weeks (Appendix 1). For the first two weeks, the staff will be introduced to the new technology, given all the necessary information, and in the second week, a formative assessment will be conducted. Further, in the third week, the TeleSitter technology will already be tested on patients in a medical institution. In the fifth week, a formative evaluation will also be conducted in order to introduce the necessary adjustments, and in the eighth week, a summative assessment will be conducted.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this project can significantly contribute to the improvement of human and social conditions. This can be done by creating a particular educational program for medical staff on the topic of TeleSitter. The need to train medical personnel in such technology is due to the fact that it reduces the risk of patients falling, reduces the labor costs of bedside nurses, and saves the resources of medical staff. This innovation has already been introduced in several hospitals in the USA and continues to develop. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a system of personnel training on this topic.
References
Akubuilo, N. L. (2020). Effectiveness of Telesitter monitoring system as a fall prevention tool in the acute care setting: A quality improvement. Grand Canyon University. Web.
Alfonso, P. (2021). Reducing fall among acute rehabilitation patients through the implementation of a video monitoring system. The University of St Augustine for Health Sciences. Web.
Alger, M. (n.d.). Unassisted fall and injury rates before and after Telesitter implementation. Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing. Web.
Keeling, E., Cudjoe, J., Hawksworth, L., Drake, J., & Davis, T. (2020). Remote visual monitoring during a pandemic. Journal of Nursing Measurement. Web.
Moser, S. (2021). Fall prevention: Remote video monitoring. MSN Capstone Projects. Web.