Piedmont shares benefits of virtual nursing, resources available for patients

Elizabeth Larkins, chief nursing officer for Piedmont Macon Medical Center and Piedmont Macon North Hospital, said the resource is available for patients.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Piedmont Health officials are highlighting the benefits of virtual nursing as part of a new effort to introduce patients to technology aimed at improving care and extending the careers of experienced nurses.

Elizabeth Larkins, chief nursing officer for Piedmont Macon Medical Center and Piedmont Macon North Hospital, said the resource is available to patients and emphasized that it is not artificial intelligence — the program uses licensed nurses.

“Basically, we have found a way to maximize the nursing workforce by hiring people who are, a lot of times, at the end of their careers,” Larkins said. “They physically have a hard time doing direct patient care anymore, but they have the expertise and knowledge of nursing, and we want to keep them in the workforce as long as we can.”

Larkins explained that the virtual nurse is located off-site and appears on a screen inside the patient’s room with the patient’s permission. She added that safety measures are in place to protect patients during virtual interactions.

She said the program is beneficial for both patients and nurses, offering an innovative solution to staffing challenges while maintaining high-quality care.

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