Date of Conferral

4-30-2024

Date of Award

April 2024

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Nursing

Advisor

Deborah Lewis

Abstract

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is among the most common reasons for emergency room utilization and hospitalizations in those over age 65. With the rapidly aging population in the United States, the number of CHF patients is projected to continue to rise, disproportionately affecting rural communities. This research study evaluated an innovative nurse-led telemedicine program developed by one rural healthcare system to address the care and economic influence of rural CHF care. The purpose of this causal comparative analysis was to determine the impact a nurse-assisted telemedicine program had on the number of emergency room visits and hospital admissions for CHF patients who participated in the nurse-led telemedicine program and those who did not. The burden of treatment theory framed the study. Secondary data provided by the partnering healthcare facility were analyzed using descriptive statistics and an independent sample t test (n=262). Study findings indicated no significant change in emergency room utilization or hospital admissions for rural CHF patients who participated in the nurse-assisted telemedicine program. The researcher was unable to collect data specific to the severity of each participant’s CHF; understanding severity of their illness may have made a difference in the outcome. The study findings suggest an ongoing need for high-quality research in managing CHF patients in rural communities to improve health outcomes and impact positive social change. Recommendations for future research include assessing the program as an actual randomized control trial or adding a qualitative component to this study to capture other factors affecting rural CHF patients.

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