Telehealth Legal Issues

Telehealth Legal Issues

TELEHEALTH LEGAL ISSUES QUESTION 1)

Identify one law or policy (local, state, or national) that relates to or affects healthcare.

Review the law or policy and answer the following questions:

 

• What is the main purpose of this law or policy?
• Who is the main population affected by this law or policy?
• What concerns do you have regarding the law or policy?

 

 

 

TELEHEALTH LEGAL ISSUES QUESTION 2)

 

What do you see as potential legal issues with the use of telehealth and telenursing? How might nurses who work in telehealth lessen their liability for some of the major issues?

 

 

 

TELEHEALTH LEGAL ISSUES QUESTION 3)

I am assuming you are referring to the different state nurse practice acts. Do nurses need to have a license if they are providing telehealth in a different state?

 

 

 

TELEHEALTH LEGAL ISSUES QUESTION 4)

As nurses, it is our responsibility to protect the confidentiality of patient records and data. With the transmission of record via computer and other electronic, the nurses and other health care providers involve must make sure to handle with care and use a secure transmitting sources for patient records. Password must be a secure one that cannot be tampered with or guess. Telenurse must work in a secure place with locks on cabinet and no family access to the computer use for work.

 

 

How is this different than using computer documentation in the hospital setting? Is there a greater risk in telehealth?

 

 

 

 

 

TELEHEALTH LEGAL ISSUES QUESTION 5)

 

My agency uses different bracelets to identify different conditions. For example, there are DNR bracelets, fall risk bracelets and allergy bracelets, but as Amanda stated, it is not always easy to see the bracelets. What interventions has your committee found to be the most effective?

 

 

 

TELEHEALTH LEGAL ISSUES QUESTION 6)

 

In cases where the doctor was notified but failed to act on the changes, the nurse is also liable.

How could the nurse lessen his or her liability in situations like you described?

 

 

 

 

TELEHEALTH LEGAL ISSUES QUESTION 7)

 

I believe the main reason we have so many falls is because comfort rounds are not done and when they are, they are not done correctly. If the 4 P’s would be asked every hour, it would cut down on falls and several other issues we see. Another issue is, not answering the call light or bed alarms within an appropriate time frame.

 

I agree that hourly rounding does decrease falls. But as you stated all falls cannot be prevented. Based on the interventions that your hospital has in place, has your fall incidence decreased?

 

 

 

 

TELEHEALTH LEGAL ISSUES QUESTION 8)

 

Do you think there is a legal issue when patients are not placed in the appropriate skilled area?