Journal article
Perceptions of Telehospitalist Services to Address Staffing Needs in Rural and Low Complexity Hospitals in the Veterans Health Administration
The Journal of rural health, Vol.36(3), pp.355-359
06/01/2020
DOI: 10.1111/jrh.12403
PMID: 31840307
Abstract
Purpose Rural hospitals are disproportionally affected by physician shortages and struggle to staff inpatient services. Telemedicine presents an opportunity to address staffing problems and bring the advantages of hospital medicine to rural areas. Methods In this study we surveyed administrators from 34 rural and low complexity hospitals in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to evaluate staffing needs and perceptions of a potential telehospitalist service. Findings Of the 25 respondent facilities (74% response rate), 96% reported vacancies that resulted in staffing difficulties within the last 3 years and 84% relied on intermittent providers to staff their inpatient services in the last year. Almost two-thirds of respondents thought that a telehospitalist service could help address their staffing needs and 72% were interested in participating in a pilot program. Conclusions The results of this study corroborate staffing challenges in rural hospitals within VHA and support the use of alternative staffing models like a telehospitalist service to address intermittent and long-term staffing needs.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Perceptions of Telehospitalist Services to Address Staffing Needs in Rural and Low Complexity Hospitals in the Veterans Health Administration
- Creators
- Jeydith Gutierrez - Iowa City VA Health Care SystemJane Moeckli - Iowa City VA Health Care SystemNeo McAdams - Iowa City VA Health Care SystemPeter J. Kaboli - Iowa City VA Health Care System
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Journal of rural health, Vol.36(3), pp.355-359
- DOI
- 10.1111/jrh.12403
- PMID
- 31840307
- NLM abbreviation
- J Rural Health
- ISSN
- 0890-765X
- eISSN
- 1748-0361
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Number of pages
- 5
- Grant note
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Office of Rural Health, Veterans Rural Health Resource Center-Iowa City; US Department of Veterans Affairs CIN 13-412 / Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Service through the Center for Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE)
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/01/2020
- Academic Unit
- Epidemiology; General Internal Medicine; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984359933402771
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