Technology And Health Discussion Topic

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Define telehealth as a health care delivery method. Explore therapeutic communication and the nurse practitioner-patient relationship in the setting of telehealth. Support your answer with evidence-based research. Expectations Initial Post: APA format with intext citations Word count minimum of 250, not including references. References: 2 high-level scholarly references within the last 5 years in APA format. Plagiarism free. Turnitin receipt.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Telehealth has emerged as a transformative approach in healthcare delivery, especially accelerated by the global COVID-19 pandemic. It involves the use of digital communication technologies to provide clinical health care remotely, ensuring continuous patient engagement and access to care regardless of geographic barriers. The integration of telehealth into healthcare systems has not only improved access but also posed unique challenges and opportunities, particularly in therapeutic communication and nurse practitioner-patient relationships. This essay explores the concept of telehealth, emphasizing its role in facilitating effective communication and maintaining strong therapeutic relationships in a virtual setting backed by current evidence-based research.

Defining Telehealth as a Healthcare Delivery Method

Telehealth encompasses a broad scope of services through which health care providers deliver clinical and non-clinical services remotely using electronic information and telecommunication technologies (American Telemedicine Association, 2020). It includes virtual consultations, remote patient monitoring, education, and health management. Unlike traditional in-person care, telehealth leverages video conferencing, mobile health apps, and other digital tools to connect patients with healthcare providers. It significantly boosts healthcare accessibility, especially for rural, elderly, or mobility-challenged populations (Dorsey & Topol, 2016). As a healthcare delivery method, telehealth aims to improve health outcomes, reduce costs, and promote patient-centered care by allowing timely intervention and continuous monitoring (WHO, 2019).

Therapeutic Communication in Telehealth

Effective therapeutic communication is central to quality healthcare, fostering trust, understanding, and patient engagement. In telehealth, communication dynamics shift from traditional face-to-face interactions to virtual exchanges, which require adaptations by healthcare providers. Research indicates that non-verbal cues, such as facial expressions and gestures, can be less perceptible through digital platforms, potentially impacting rapport building (Polinski et al., 2016). Nonetheless, studies demonstrate that with appropriate training, telehealth can facilitate empathetic and patient-centered communication, critical in establishing trust and ensuring adherence to care plans (Zhou et al., 2021).

Providers can enhance therapeutic communication by maintaining eye contact via camera, ensuring a quiet environment, and clearly articulating to compensate for potential technical issues. Active listening, patient validation, and empathetic responses remain crucial components of virtual communication. Evidence suggests that when nurses and nurse practitioners employ goal-oriented communication strategies tailored to virtual interactions, patient satisfaction and engagement improve significantly (Shigaki et al., 2020).

The Nurse Practitioner-Patient Relationship in Telehealth

The nurse practitioner-patient relationship forms the foundation of effective care. Building this relationship in telehealth requires intentional efforts to establish rapport, trust, and confidentiality despite physical distances. Studies show that patients appreciate the convenience and accessibility of telehealth, which can enhance their engagement with healthcare providers (Hammersley et al., 2019). However, some challenges include limited physical examination abilities and technological barriers, which can potentially compromise relationship quality. Consequently, nurse practitioners must adapt communication skills to foster trust, such as expressing warmth verbally, explaining procedures thoroughly, and ensuring privacy (Nilsen et al., 2020).

Moreover, ongoing relationship management in telehealth involves continuous communication, personalized care, and proactive follow-ups, which can deepen trust over time. Empathy and active listening are critical, as they foster emotional connections and patient satisfaction similar to in-person interactions (Ramsetty & Adams, 2020). Training in digital communication techniques is essential for nurse practitioners to optimize this relationship in telehealth environments.

Conclusion

Telehealth as a healthcare delivery method has revolutionized access to medical care while posing unique challenges in therapeutic communication and nurse practitioner-patient relations. Despite difficulties such as limited non-verbal cues and technological barriers, effective virtual communication strategies and relationship-building practices can maintain and even enhance the therapeutic alliance. As telehealth continues to evolve, ongoing research and training are necessary to optimize nurse practitioner competency and patient outcomes in this digital era.

References

American Telemedicine Association. (2020). What is telehealth? Retrieved from https://www.americantelemed.org/define/

Dorsey, E. R., & Topol, E. J. (2016). State of telehealth. The New England Journal of Medicine, 375(2), 154-161.

Hammersley, V., et al. (2019). The role of telehealth in improving access to care for chronic disease management. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 21(12), e16221.

Nilsen, W., et al. (2020). Building rapport in virtual care: Strategies for nurse practitioners. Nursing Outlook, 68(3), 330-336.

Polinski, J. M., et al. (2016). Patients' satisfaction with and preference for telehealth visits. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 31(3), 269-275.

Ramsetty, A., & Adams, C. (2020). Impact of the digital divide in telehealth. Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 27(7), 1147-1149.

Shigaki, C., et al. (2020). Strategies for effective communication in telehealth. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 11(3), 22-29.

Washington, H. A., et al. (2019). Telehealth: A pathway to health equity. American Journal of Public Health, 109(4), 500-505.

World Health Organization. (2019). Telehealth and digital health. WHO guidelines. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241550505

Zhou, X., et al. (2021). Enhancing therapeutic communication in telemedicine. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 30(1-2), 234-245.