Virtually Integrated Care: A New Era in Nursing at YRMC

For decades, hospitals have worked to blend the “high-tech” and “high-touch” aspects of health care as a way to elevate the patient experience. At Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC), the recently launched Virtually Integrated Care (VIC) program is a stellar example of how the right kind of technology can accomplish this and more.

What is VIC? It’s a patented, service-marked, high-tech program that was developed by the Dignity Health/CommonSpirit network. VIC connects a remote, professional registered nurse to each patient, via a high-definition camera, video screen and two-way audio. VIC nurses don’t replace the bedside care team at YRMC. Instead, VIC nurses assist the bedside care team and also offer our patients another option for connecting to an experienced registered nurse.

Patients and their families can access a VIC nurse 24/7 simply by tapping the screen in the patient’s room. Once connected, patients can ask the same questions they would ask a YRMC bedside nurse: Am I scheduled for X-rays today? What time is my procedure? Would you make sure I don’t get beef with meals? Can I have an extra pillow?

Because VIC nurses have access to patients’ records – like all bedside nurses – they can answer these questions and more. After the conversation ends, the camera folds into the monitor to ensure the patient’s privacy.

Using VIC is voluntary, but since its introduction, the easy-to-use technology has been very popular with YRMC patients and their families. Our hospital’s bedside nurses also are pleased with VIC. They appreciate that VIC nurses take on a broad range of important, time-consuming tasks – charting, patient education and discharges, for example.

One of my favorite aspects of VIC is that the program’s nurses live and work in our community. The VIC hub is located in a specially designed area at YRMC East in Prescott Valley, not in a distant call center. However, it’s a testament to the advanced technology and flexibility of the system that in extreme cases – such as a snowstorm, for instance – CommonSpirit VIC nurses can seamlessly assist our patients from other regions.

Additionally, VIC effectively leverages technology to address the nationwide nursing shortage. In our community, VIC is bringing experienced nurses back to the profession and giving them the opportunity to care for patients in a different way.

YRMC West in Prescott is honored to be the first hospital in the southwest to use this breakthrough technology; additionally, VIC will be implemented at YRMC East in Prescott Valley in 2024. VIC is an example of how leading-edge technology can both improve the patient experience and address a major issue like the nationwide nursing shortage.

VIC is truly the beginning of a new era in nursing at YRMC. QCBN

By Anthony Torres, M.D.

Anthony Torres, M.D., FACP, is the president and CEO of Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center.