Communication Plan: Patients with Suspected COVID-19
Description
Hospital visitation policies have continued to evolve throughout the pandemic resulting in
visitation restrictions for COVID patients. To positively shape the experience for patients,
families, and care providers a new communication plan utilizing virtual visiting emerged. The
purpose of this quality improvement project, developed based on the caring theory, is to
explore if implementing iPads with virtual visiting capabilities is effective in increasing patient
and family satisfaction. IPads were deployed throughout a large, emergency department
located in the southwest United States to enable virtual communication among patients,
families, and healthcare workers to measure the patient and family’s satisfaction. After the
virtual visit the patient and family member had the option to complete a satisfaction survey.
The anonymous post-visit Likert-scale surveys measured (1) ease of iPad use, (2) staff
engagement, and (3) mental health - coping and stress. Participants were recruited via the
electronic medical record that displayed patients being ruled out for COVID. Data was
analyzed using descriptive analysis and the results showed high levels of satisfaction among
the patients and families in all areas. There is sufficient evidence to suggest that the
availability of virtual visits is beneficial for patients and families. The implementation of video
communication via iPad showed high levels of patient and family satisfaction, mental health
outcomes and increased family involvement.
Date Created
The date the item was original created (prior to any relationship with the ASU Digital Repositories.)
2022-04-30
Agent
- Author (aut): Zirkus, Cloe
- Thesis advisor (ths): Rauton, Monica
- Contributor (ctb): Arizona State University. College of Nursing & Healthcare Innovation