As virtual care becomes a core part of care delivery, many health systems are shifting from asking whether to implement it to figuring out how to do so in ways that are scalable, sustainable, and responsive to frontline needs.
For clinical and nursing leaders, the goals are often clear: extend clinician reach, support patients more effectively, reduce burnout, and improve outcomes. But the path to execution is not always straightforward. In many cases, infrastructure becomes the limiting factor—not the care model itself.
Defining the Virtual Care Model
Before considering infrastructure or technology, it is essential to define what your virtual care program is trying to accomplish. Technology should support the care model—not shape it.
Start by identifying the specific clinical goals you want to support:
Common Use Cases
- Virtual nursing for admissions, discharges, overnight support, or patient education
- Pharmacy consults for medication reconciliation, ED support, or post-discharge review
- Case management or social work during care transitions or discharge planning
- Dietitian or specialist consults for rural or under-resourced hospitals
These use cases are often chosen based on staffing gaps, care coordination needs, or patient access challenges.
Key Program Design Questions
To shape your care model, consider:
- Who provides the virtual service?
Are nurses, case managers, pharmacists, or other roles delivering care remotely? - When and how do they engage?
Is virtual care integrated into scheduled rounding, on-demand consults, or daily workflows like discharges? - How do they connect with on-site teams?
What are the handoff, documentation, or escalation workflows? How is coordination managed?
A clear care model helps ensure virtual care fits into existing clinical operations rather than creating new silos or bottlenecks.
Start Small and Scale with Data
Many systems begin with one unit, one workflow, and one team. A small, well-scoped pilot can validate the care model before investing further.
As the program grows, track metrics that demonstrate both clinical impact and operational value:
- Number of virtual touchpoints per day or week
- Time saved per interaction (e.g. admissions, discharges)
- Staff satisfaction, both virtual and on-site
- Patient feedback and experience
- Avoided delays or improved throughput
This data helps build the internal case for continued investment and refinement over time, and guides decisions about when and where to scale.
Infrastructure Should Not Be the Limiting Factor
A common challenge in standing up virtual care programs is how to physically support them. Fixed video installations offer high quality but are expensive and take time to implement across rooms or units. On the other hand, tablets or carts provide flexibility but often add operational burden for already stretched staff.
This becomes especially difficult when trying to expand virtual care into locations like step-down units, rural facilities, or pop-up expansions. These are often the places most in need of clinical support, but least equipped for complex technology rollouts.
Flexibility and Mobility Matter
Many health systems are now prioritizing infrastructure models that can flex to different use cases. A mobile-first approach is becoming more common, especially when the goal is to get a program off the ground quickly without committing to permanent installs across every room.
Mobile telepresence devices are one option that some organizations have used to fill this gap. For example, OhmniCare is a telepresence robot that can autonomously move through a unit and connect clinicians to the bedside Solutions like this are designed to be deployed without room-by-room installations. Because they’re mobile and shareable across units, they offer a practical way to support virtual care in areas that don’t yet justify permanent installs.
More importantly, tools like these allow for team-based models of virtual care. Nurses, physicians, pharmacists, case managers, and dietitians can all participate in a single patient interaction, whether from across the facility or across the state.
Virtual Care as Team Infrastructure
At its best, virtual care isn’t just about reducing travel or adding convenience—it’s about making care delivery more collaborative. With the right infrastructure, virtual care enables:
- Nursing support without overloading bedside staff
- Interdisciplinary consults that bring in pharmacists, nutritionists, or social workers in real-time
- Consistent presence in hard-to-reach units without needing full-time on-site staff
- Improved transitions of care, from virtual discharges to post-visit education
One Size Doesn’t Fit All
It’s important to recognize that there’s no single “right” infrastructure model. Many successful programs blend fixed-room video systems, mobile carts, and telepresence tools depending on clinical goals, unit needs, and budget realities. What matters most is selecting technology that supports the way teams actually deliver care—and can adapt as that delivery evolves.
Final Reflection
As virtual care grows beyond pilots and pandemic response, flexibility is becoming the defining trait of successful programs. Whether you’re working in a flagship hospital or supporting satellite clinics, the ability to deploy quickly, integrate with existing workflows, and scale without overcommitting resources is key.
Mobile solutions like OhmniCare won’t replace other modalities, but they may open doors to broader access, faster deployments, and more sustainable care models. And in a world where every hour of clinician time counts, those kinds of tools may be just as important as the programs they support.
