Potential Telecommunication Risks: Cautions and Suggestions for the Team
Information technology has catapulted us into the 21st century with a speed that has found many of us whirling with voice mails, faxes, e-mail messages, and express mail delivery, while still plodding through the daily paper streams of written messages and regular mail. Do you remember when we thought computers and information technology would simplify our lives? As technical advancements in communication have rapidly progressed, so has the nature of our nursing care. With managed care, many of our patients are being discharged more quickly, with a substantial increase in outpatient services and home care requirements. While nursing has responded to the needs of outpatient care, same-day surgical procedures, home health practice, and early discharge, our structures for communication have also changed rapidly. This article addresses some of the potential risks facing our practices in this fast-paced world of telenursing, with a special focus on e-mail and phone communications with our patients. Confidentiality and documentation issues will be discussed, as well as issues concerning providing advice across state lines.

An important note: this article is not a substitute for legal counsel. Its purpose is to raise awareness of several potential risk management issues and stimulate the reader's thoughts about what other potential risk management issues may exist in his/her practice. Once you have identified a potential risk, it may be helpful to work with your facility's risk management office or legal counsel.