Is there a market for tele-NPs?

[bstacy1313]

As a 100% tele-health startup practice, we've discussed different hiring models for our providers.

I'm curious if there is a market for NPs that would be interested in:

1. Work from home

2. Choose own hours

3. Own the patient relationship

4. Work in a niche medical area

5. Have short 5-15 minute video patient discussions

As NP's, what do you feel the pro's and con's of a job like this would be? (assume pay would be @ market value)

Looking forward to your feedback :)

[Nacki, MSN, NP]

1. Yes

2. Yes

3. Yes

4. Yes

5. Yes

Pros include flexibility, keeping up with technology, being able to see patients quicker, seeing more patients (working in different time zones).

Cons I currently see with my position are connection issues, remote consults are impersonal at times, older generation not familiar with the technology used, not having a "paper copy" of records, not being able to accurately diagnosis without a full exam (mind you I don't prescribe in my position-it's health screening and education only), no flexibility with our schedule (we are M-F 6-2 pm on average), limited to seeing pts within your state only unless licensed elsewhere.

This is all I can come up with for now. If you have a company that offers more hours, I'd be happy to jump on board!

[steffyh]

I would totally love to do this! I think this is the next wave of innovation in medicine and think there's a market for it- why have sick people leave their home? Doctors use to do home visits and while some are starting to do that again, I think technology has solved that for those of us who would love to do home care in a variety of areas. This is perfect for families w/ young children who find child care difficult to come by and for patients w/ disabilities who find it difficult to leave their home for simple acute visits.

I'm game- I would love more information!

[travelNP]

There is definitely an interest to work in this field at a nurse practitioner standpoint. However, not all states allow it yet.

[Psychcns]

Also, rules to sort out. Prescribing (especially controlled substances) across state lines. Being licensed in state pt resides. Can provider be out of state or out of the country. Is a face to face initial eval required.

[PG2018]

1 yes

2 yes

3 yes

4 yes

5 yes

I recently spent a day doing telehealth. I liked it. My company does a lot of it, but I've never had to. I did it for the novelty and could envision doing nothing but that. Most of my colleagues fax prescriptions. Electronic prescription submission is optimal. I'm all for it as long as I make over 150k, no call. You've got to be licensed where the patient is. In psychiatry, it's great. I don't do anything physical.

Frankly, I have no personal qualm with treating people by email or IM.

[KylaKRN]

Just wondering how this proccess is going, I am just begining my FNP program but this is the area I would like to get into evenutally, if possible. I was hoping the rise of tellemedice would start, and include the use of FNPs.

[BCgradnurse, MSN, RN, NP]

I'd be interested in a position like this. A good portion of my patients never want to come in for visits anyway, and jst want advice/treatment over the phone. I

[Ennemkay]

This would appear to be something to be excited about for the profession... In the short term. In the long-term, this could pave the way for outsourcing. If there is an np union, health practitioners union, it would probably be in their best interest to try to fight for legislation that requires physical, face-to-face interaction for medical exams. A short-sighted view of this trend could be disastrous for long-term job security of American health practitioners. Just something to think about.