Telling the Hospital Story: Providence St. Joseph Hospital Eureka California hospital sees record ER efficiency after launching virtual program

Providence St. Joseph Hospital Eureka in California is reporting some of its shortest emergency department wait times ever — often under 10 minutes — after launching a virtual nursing model that pairs telehealth technology with traditional bedside care. At the heart of this initiative is video technology that allows remote nurses to handle documentation, patient education and discharge tasks, giving in-person nurses more time to focus on direct patient care.

Leaders of the hospital, the first in the Providence system to implement this model, say the changes are already paying off. Since rollout, they’ve seen increased pain measurement reassessments and higher patient satisfaction scores. "Our patient experience metrics have gone through the roof, some of the highest they've been in years," said Providence St. Joseph Hospital Eureka Director of Nursing Kristen Hansen. "And then the other thing we're really looking at is administrative burden and documentation burden on bedside staff."

This model also has the potential to improve employee retention, offering remote work options to nurses who may otherwise consider leaving the profession due to the physical or emotional demands of bedside care.

Beyond the virtual nursing model, the hospital is leveraging artificial intelligence tools to reduce physician paperwork and has implemented a new Physician‑in‑Triage model to ensure patients are assessed and treated immediately upon arrival at the ER. Leaders at St. Joseph Hospital Eureka are optimistic that the success of these programs will lead to wider adoption across the Providence network nationwide.

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