2018 TNA and TSNA Joint Annual Conference

2018 TNA-TSNA JOINT CONFERENCE | ADVOCACY IN ACTION
Findings:
Overall, performance with the planned system was good if not better than the current. Nonetheless, several
opportunities for go-live and future enhancements emerged related to e-learning modules to help nurses
adapt to new workflows; screen display and organization, confusing and disruptive alerts. Insulin continued
to be problematic in both systems and is a priority for future system changes
Recommendations for Practice/Research:
Celebrating improvements and timely mitigation of problems relies upon reliable, repeatable and actionable
evaluations of workflow. Formal evaluation of the impact of new technology on nursing care is critical
before, during and after implementation to ensure patient safety and nurse satisfaction.
Using Telehealth to Reach Socially Isolated Patients with Chronic Pain
Kathryn Hansen (Presenter)
Problem Addressed:
Seventeen percent of individuals in the state of Tennessee report chronic pain. In rural communities in the
middle Tennessee area, the ratio of population to primary care providers is approximately 2800:1, indicating
diminished access to primary and specialty care. Twenty five percent of the patients at the Osher Center
for Integrative Medicine (OCIM) live outside Nashville city limits, barring them from consistent access to
multidisciplinary chronic pain care.
Objectives:
This project aims to elucidate the feasibility of telemedicine as a means to provide access to nonpharmacological
strategies to control and manage chronic pain. An ancillary goal of this project is to
determine if the HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform is an effective way to decrease social isolation in this
population of patients and improve pain coping skills.
Methods/Procedures:
This project implemented four multimodal telehealth sessions during spring of 2017 to four existing patients
of OCIM with restricted access to care. The topics of these sessions were adapted from existing Mind Body
Medicine curriculum and included acupressure, stress management, nutrition education, and movement,
with guided meditation included at the beginning of each session. Validated surveys PROMIS-29 and
Pain Self Efficacy Questionnaire (PSEQ-2) were utilized to assess physical, mental, and social health and
confidence to one’s ability to lead a normal life despite pain, respectively. Additionally, novel questions
surrounding computer literacy were included in these pre- and post-intervention surveys.
Findings:
Project in process, results to follow
Expected outcomes include reports of improved confidence in social interactions and sense of community,
improved ability to manage pain on daily basis, and confidence in utilizing the telehealth platform as a
means to engage in health education.
Recommendations for Practice/Research:
After analysis is complete, recommendations, as appropriate, for implementing telehealth groups for chronic
pain patients will be made
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