Role of the Informatics Nurse in Telemedicine

Telemedicine involves the use of information technology in facilitating communication between patients and health care professionals. Informatics nurses are responsible for designing and maintaining telemedicine systems and processes.

Telemedicine

• Telemedicine involves patients calling or emailing a health care organization to talk to a nurse about symptoms they are experiencing or to get advice on other health care issues. Depending on the symptoms involved, the nurse may instruct the patient to go to an emergency room or seek further advice from a doctor.

Duties

• In telemedicine, informatics nurses are responsible for designing and supporting information systems and processes with the aim of increasing telemedicine effectiveness. Specifically, informatics nurses ensure that care is high quality, timely, appropriate and cost-effective.

Benefits

• Informatics nurses in telemedicine are beneficial to both patients and the health care industry for a number of reasons. Telemedicine provides equitable access to health care professionals, reduces costs for both patients and health care providers and reduces duplicate testing. Without informatics to design and maintain telemedicine systems, this would not be possible, according to the Hospital for Sick Children.