Mount Carmel Health System Revolutionizes Nursing Practice With Launch of TogetherTeam Virtual Connected Care™
November 6, 2023
The first-of-its-kind model in central Ohio will support solutions to challenges posed by the workforce crisis and increase engagement for patients and nurses.
COLUMBUS, OH, Nov. 6, 2023 – Mount Carmel Health System, a member of Trinity Health, today announced the launch of TogetherTeam Virtual Connected Care™, a first-of-its-kind care model to improve patient-centered care delivery, increase job satisfaction and create career pathways for nurses at any stage of their career. The model is currently operational at Mount Carmel Grove City, with plans to expand to the system’s other regional hospitals in the future.
With a predicted shortage of 9 million nurses worldwide by 2030, the nursing workforce crisis remains a critical challenge for health systems across the nation. TogetherTeam Virtual Connected Care™ addresses this pressing issue head-on, utilizing a true team approach to patient-centered care that uses technology to support direct care staff and increase patient interaction. Patients receiving care at Mount Carmel Grove City can expect to be treated by a direct care (bedside) registered nurse, an on-site nursing assistant or LPN, and a registered nurse who remotes into the patient's room virtually. The team functions as a cohesive and highly connected unit to deliver comprehensive care.
"We are taking a bold step toward revolutionizing the nursing practice for our patients and Mount Carmel Health System nursing colleagues," said Tauana McDonald, president, Mount Carmel Grove City. "This model not only confronts the imminent challenges nurses face as clinicians through creativity and ingenuity but also enhances care delivery and bolsters job satisfaction — paving the way for the nurses of tomorrow. It is truly a pioneering strategy with a veritable team care model that will help us inspire a new era of nursing excellence."
The virtual nurses are located at Mount Carmel East and have access to complete medical records and even the ability to perform detailed examinations via advanced camera technology. The presence of an experienced virtual nurse provides invaluable mentoring and support to the direct care nurses, especially those who are new graduates.
"Nursing resources are scarce and will only get worse if we don’t act now. The workforce shortage has crippled the traditional model of hospital nursing, which is no longer optimal in some environments," said Denise Minor, chief nursing officer at Mount Carmel Grove City. "This innovative care delivery model supports nurses doing what they love most: using their full breadth of skills to provide excellent professional care to their patients."
A key market differentiator, the model accommodates caregivers at various stages of their careers, providing a stable and predictable working environment and helping to build a strong pipeline of caregivers to meet future health care needs.
TogetherTeam Virtual Connected Care™ is successfully implemented at other health systems within the Trinity Health family and will be unique to Mount Carmel within central Ohio. The program is officially live following a blessing of the site taking place this morning.
ABOUT MOUNT CARMEL HEALTH SYSTEM
Mount Carmel Health System, a member of Trinity Health, has provided high-quality, comprehensive healthcare services in central Ohio for more than 130 years. Our team of more than 9,000 colleagues, 2,300 physicians and 550 volunteers provide compassionate, people-centered primary and specialty care at its four hospitals—Mount Carmel East, Mount Carmel Grove City, Mount Carmel New Albany and Mount Carmel St. Ann’s, as well as Diley Ridge Medical Center, an affiliation of Mount Carmel and Fairfield Medical Center. The health system is also comprised of Mount Carmel Medical Group and Mount Carmel Health Partners, along with surgery centers, emergency and ambulatory care centers, and hospice and home care services throughout the region.
ABOUT TRINITY HEALTH
Trinity Health is one of the largest not-for-profit, faith-based health care systems in the nation. It is a family of 123,000 colleagues and nearly 27,000 physicians and clinicians caring for diverse communities across 26 states. Nationally recognized for care and experience, the Trinity Health system includes 88 hospitals, 135 continuing care locations, the second largest PACE program in the country, 136 urgent care locations and many other health and well-being services. Based in Livonia, Michigan, its annual operating revenue is $21.5 billion with $1.4 billion returned to its communities in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs.