Virtual Nursing: Redefining the Bedside Experience through Virtual Innovation

Piedmont Healthcare launched a virtual nursing pilot to address the nursing shortage and improve patient care. Over 90 days, 143 in-room devices were deployed, resulting in improved nurse satisfaction, reduced discharge times, and enhanced patient experience. Encouraged by these outcomes, the program expanded to 17 hospitals with over 2,700 devices in 10 months. Within 18 months, Piedmont achieved full 24/7 virtual RN coverage. Key metrics showed improvements in medication review timeliness (7.8 hours faster), discharge order-to-door time (81 minutes faster), and ED hold times (1.3 hours shorter). Nurse satisfaction surveys revealed 84% of bedside nurses “like or love” virtual nursing, and 78% are more likely to stay at Piedmont. This innovative model has transformed care delivery, reduced excess patient days, and improved operational efficiency across the system.