Avera to expand virtual nursing across rural sites

Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Avera will use $1 million in federal funding to expand its virtual nursing program.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s distance learning and telemedicine program awarded Avera $1,017,126 over three years to enhance access to virtual patient care at 28 rural healthcare sites in South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa, according to an Aug. 19 news release shared with Becker’s.

Avera said it will use the funds to deploy virtual nursing models that assign remote staff to nonhands-on tasks, such as patient education, admissions, discharges and safety surveillance. The approach aims to ease staffing shortages by allowing bedside nurses to focus on direct care.

Avera began piloting the model two years ago at Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center in Sioux Falls and Avera St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre, S.D. The funding will also support additional sites and cover purchases of AI-powered mobile carts, surveillance cameras, Artisight Connect TV Sticks and audiovisual communication tools.

The health system has received 23 USDA grants over the past 15 years to support rural care initiatives. The latest funding extends through August 2027.

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