Telenurse: New career opportunities in telemedicine
Read the following portrait about the profession of teleurse and the opportunities that lie in the telemedicine profession.
© Ev Harnisch, private
About the person:
Ev Harnisch is Network Manager for Heart Failure and Telenurse at Dr Gerhard Hoh's cardiology practice in Wittenberg. After training as a medical assistant (MFA) and various specialist assistants, as well as training as a heart failure nurse, she has now been working for Dr Hoh for three years and has been working with inCareNet HF in her everyday life since 2022.
It is a sunny September morning when Ev Harnisch enters her office. She opens a window and switches on the kettle to make tea. A typical day for Ev Harnisch starts with a cup of green tea and logging into inCareNet HF. Then it's time to work through the tasks: ‘The traffic light system for alerts that inCareNet uses allows me to quickly see which patients I need to check and which are within the normal range thanks to its simple green, yellow and red colour scheme,’ explains Harnisch. She immediately recognises whether a red alarm is a false measurement or whether there is a serious problem. A false alarm occurs, for example, if a patient does not stand with both feet firmly on the scales and they are off by ten or fifteen kilograms compared to the previous day. The system immediately recognises such a large fluctuation and sends out a warning,’ says Harnisch. Nothing escapes her attentive eye.
„Some clinical pictures can only be recognised and their progression possibly mitigated through regular and long-term monitoring. I discuss with Dr Hoh any fluctuations that I notice that indicate an unusual change in my patient’s condition. The necessary steps are then taken to stabilise his condition.“
As soon as an unrealistic fluctuation occurs, Ev Harnisch realises that it can't be right. The situation is different for ECGs that deviate from the norm: ‘Some clinical pictures can only be detected through regular and long-term monitoring, and their progression can be mitigated under certain circumstances. I discuss with Dr Hoh any fluctuation that catches my eye and suggests an unusual change in my patient's condition. The necessary steps are then taken to stabilise his condition,’ says Harnisch.
How are the daily measurements taken?
Ideally, the patient should take the measurements first thing in the morning after waking up. A set of external measuring devices usually consists of scales, a blood pressure monitor and an ECG monitor. They are all connected to a tablet via Bluetooth, so that the recorded data is transmitted almost in real time: everything is done in just a few minutes. This enables the patient to be more self-determined and to actively shape their recovery. ‘Some patients need a little nudge from time to time because they forget to take their measurements. Then I write a text message or call to get the patient back on track,’ says Harnisch. When asked how heart patients are accepting of telemedicine, Harnisch replies, ’Very well, because it gives our heart failure patients a bit more control over their lives. In particular, heart failure patients often have other comorbidities, such as obesity, but also mental health issues. Routine and daily monitoring often lead to an improvement in their circumstances. Many patients are motivated to lose weight or reduce their stress levels if they keep an eye on their weight or blood pressure every day. And we as doctors and medical professionals can also provide much better care for patients with heart failure if something goes wrong and, for example, medication needs to be adjusted or, in the most extreme case, a patient needs to come to the practice.’
What can telemedicine do today?
At present, telemedicine is a hybrid field in which humans are needed as controllers, but also as empathetic listeners. Through the hybrid solution of telemonitoring in their home environment, coupled with personal contact via telephone, Dr Hoh and Telenurse Ev Harnisch provide the best possible care for their patients. According to a study*, telemonitoring of patients can increase their life expectancy, but it also improves their quality of life in general, especially in the case of anxiety or depression patients. ‘We provide the patient with a comprehensive service that would not be possible under normal circumstances without telemedicine. For example, I can also respond and contact my patients on holidays or at the weekend – this is not possible in an ordinary cardiology practice,’ explains Dr Hoh. These and a number of exciting innovations in the field of telemedicine enable patients to look to the future with less worry. Because a diagnosis of heart failure is a serious matter, but with today's medical resources, it can be kept well in check.
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Telemedicine relieves the burden on doctors, hospitals, nurses and care staff.
We are proud that our telemedical software solution inCareNet HF is setting new standards in Germany and Europe for remote patient monitoring of heart failure (HF). This makes us the market leader in this field and motivates us every day to continue our work in order to one day create a network of efficient, patient-centred monitoring models.