Effects of Telenursing Triage and Advice on Healthcare Costs and Resource Use.

ABSTRACT

Telenursing triage and advice services are continuing to expand both nationally and internationally. A primary role of telehealth nursing triage is to channel patients or clients towards appropriate levels of care, thereby reducing healthcare costs and freeing up resources. PURPOSE: The objective of this research is to (a) present an overview of the current research, (b) describe the extent to which telenursing services are fulfilling this role, (c) identify gaps in the literature and (d) propose future research directions. METHODS: The report consists of a scoping review of current literature based on the framework suggested by Arkseyand O'Malley (2005). RESULTS: Although the available research spans a variety of jurisdictions, which makes comparison difficult, there is some evidence that suggests telenursing services empower clients to access levels of care in keeping with the severity of their symptoms, as well as enabling clients to engage in self-care when appropriate. This in turn leads to cost savings for the broader health care system. CONCLUSION: More evaluation of telenursing programs is needed to identify consistent savings. Health outcomes should be a part of the research.