How Virtual Hospitalists Benefit Patients and Providers

After-hours remote support enhances care, improves satisfaction and helps control costs.

Over the past two decades, hospitalists have become essential to nearly every hospital and health network around the country. With their patient-centered approach to care, hospitalists not only contribute to improved health outcomes — they improve operations and workflow, creating a range of efficiencies for providers. That helps control costs for everyone.
The growing engagement of virtual hospitalists amplifies those benefits. While the concept of digital health is not new, its value has grown substantially with greater acceptance by patients and providers alike.

The benefits of virtual hospitalists are extensive and well documented — and they’re available now. By partnering with OSF OnCall, your care team can leverage those benefits to your advantage.

An industry stretched thin

There is a growing crisis in health care. The workforce is stretched thin. A shortage of physicians, nurses and trained medical professionals make workflow a challenge. Nighttime and weekend staffing can be especially difficult. The work itself is tough and demanding. Nearly everyone in the industry will likely experience burnout at some point.

As you strive to maintain the highest levels of patient care, you also must look out for the well-being of your care team. After all, they’re only human. They have families and lives outside of work. If they’re not healthy and happy, they can’t be effective at work. As you juggle these challenges, you also need to keep an eye on costs.

Effective stewardship of your resources is essential. As providers ourselves, we understand your challenges. And we’re here to help.

OSF OnCall offers virtual hospitalist services to provide high-quality care for adult patients remotely, 365 days a year. That includes board-certified physicians available from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. — with options for daytime staffing. Our hospitalists can provide a wide range of services, including:

• Support for your nursing team
• Admission assessment and order placement
• Transfers
• Virtual face-to-face consultations, when needed
• Support for on-site APPs

Supporting your care team
Virtual hospitalists can help you optimize workflow and address your most challenging problems head-on. We offer essential remote support so your on-site team can focus on the most pressing issues at hand. We’ll manage patient communication and other routine concerns. And you’ll be able to provide expedited care to the most acutely ill patients.

With nighttime staffing assistance, you’ll see an increase in the efficacy of your daytime physicians and staff. You’ll be able to better manage your limited resources, and your team will be free to help more people. It’s the perfect combination of people, processes and technology.

Streamlining patient care
Our technology-centric solution is an ideal supplement to on-site care. Working hand in hand with your provider team, our virtual hospitalists help patients get the care they need when they need it. With increased after-hours capacity, they won’t have to wait long to have their concerns addressed. Easy access to one-to-one virtual hospitalist visits allows patients to speak to a provider more quickly. More timely orders and earlier management of illness and disease can decrease their length of stay. Improved discharge time and a reduction in unnecessary transfers will lead to better patient outcomes and increased patient satisfaction.

Increasing employee satisfaction
Your people are your No. 1 asset. With additional support and coverage, your care team will feel empowered and productive. That will increase employee morale and overall satisfaction, while lowering burnout rates. They’ll be able to achieve a better work-life balance. That will not only improve the quality of their work but help with staff retention. By investing in their well-being, you’ll create a healthier workplace. And that helps you create a more attractive model for talent recruitment.

Controlling costs
Virtual hospitalist services help control provider costs, both directly and indirectly. You’ll be able to enhance patient coverage, even at night and on the weekends — without adding full-time or contracted staff. That allows for expanded services and the potential for additional revenue. You’ll also streamline costs by paying a single provider for care across multiple facilities.

From enhanced patient coverage to improved daytime physician efficacy, virtual hospitalist services create greater efficiencies and cost savings. Increased employee satisfaction helps ease the costly burden of turnover as well as recruitment efforts in difficult locations.

A partner to guide you
The same technologies that are disrupting traditional industries such as retail are also disrupting health care. By leveraging the benefits of virtual hospitalist services, providers can make more effective and timely visits, saving money and resources. 

When it comes to ensuring patient satisfaction and streamlining workflow, we are here for you. Contact OSF OnCall today to get started — your staff and patients will thank you! Give us a call or contact us online to speak with a representative who can answer your questions and help you take advantage of the benefits of digital health.