Virtual Nursing Workshop & Insights Program
Saturday, May 3 | 3:00 PM – 6:30 PM CT
Sunday, May 4 | 7:45 AM – 1:25 PM CT
NOTE: The workshop takes place on the first day of NEXUS 2025. To register, select the Virtual Nursing Workshop during the NEXUS registration.
The Tools, Connections, and Frameworks for Scalable, Data-Driven Virtual Nursing Models
Expanding on ATA’s highly acclaimed Insights Summit, this workshop provides an in-depth exploration of virtual nursing models, focusing on integration strategies, workforce sustainability, and AI-driven innovations that are reshaping care delivery and operational efficiency.
Participants will engage with leading experts, industry pioneers, and health system executives to:
- Identify best practices for launching and scaling virtual nursing programs.
- Address organizational, financial, and technological challenges in implementation.
- Explore emerging AI and automation applications to enhance workflows and clinical decision-making.
Dates and Times
- Date and Time: Saturday, May 3 | 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM CT
- Working Breakfast: Monday, May 4 | 7:30 AM to 8:45 AM CT
- Working Lunch: Monday, May 4 | 12:00 PM – 1:25 PM CT
PROGRAM AGENDA
SATURDAY, MAY 3 - Room 1
3:00 PM – 3:20 PM CT
Opening Remarks and Setting the Stage
- Murielle Beene, DNP, MBA, MPH, MS, RN-BC, PMP, FAAN, Senior VP and CHIO, Trinity Health
3:20 PM – 4:00 PM CT
Virtual Nursing in Action: Building Data-Driven Programs for Impact & ROI
As virtual nursing continues to evolve and integrate into healthcare systems, organizations must define clear goals, standardized metrics, and sustainable implementation strategies to ensure its success. This session will provide a deep dive into the logistics of building and optimizing a virtual nursing program, focusing on ROI, clinical impact, and overcoming operational barriers.
- Moderator: Lisa-Mae Williams, PhD, RN, CNO, Intercept Telehealth
- Amy Hassell, RN, MSN, CNO, UCHealth Virtual Health Center- Confirmed
- Beth Waters, BSN, RN, CCRN, PHN, TeleCritical Care Nurse, VA TeleCritical Care System - West
- Scott Simeone, VP Experience and Digital Transformation, Ochsner Health
- Kaylie Weltsch, MSN, RN, CCRN, Nurse Manager, Virtual Care Command Center
4:00 PM – 4:20 PM CT
Working Group Discussion
4:20 PM – 4:30 PM CT
Working Group Report-out’s
4:30 – 4:45 PM
Reimagining Bedside Care: The Role of AI-Powered Virtual Nursing
Hear from industry experts on how AI-powered virtual nursing is transforming bedside care. By automating tasks like admissions & discharges and leveraging ambient documentation, nurses can focus more on direct patient care and less on administrative tasks. Integrated directly into the EHR, virtual nursing optimizes workflows with system data to identify critical tasks and apply neural insights from in-room video to detect patient events, accelerate throughput, and improve patient & care team safety. Health systems like Sentara are seeing real impact - increasing early discharges by 70%, gaining back 40 nursing hours per 100 beds, and achieving over 85% staff satisfaction.
- Noel Khirsukhani, Chief Growth Officer, Andor
- Mary Morin, RN, NEA-BC, CNO, Andor
4:45 PM – 5:05 PM CT
Optimizing Workforce Strategies: Virtual Nursing Labor Calculations for Efficiency & Sustainability
As healthcare systems navigate workforce challenges, accurate labor calculations are essential for designing scalable and sustainable virtual nursing programs. In this keynote fireside chat, Cynthia Salisbury of Providence will explore the critical factors in staffing virtual nursing teams, balancing workload distribution, and aligning labor models with patient needs, financial sustainability, and operational efficiency.
- Cynthia Salisbury, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CPHQ, CPPS, Executive Director, Nursing Operations, Providence
5:05 PM – 5:25 PM CT
Fireside Chat - hellocare
5:25 PM – 6:05 PM CT
Scaling Virtual Nursing: Strategies for Growth, Integration & Organizational Buy-In
What does it take to expand virtual nursing programs from a single unit to a system-wide initiative? This session delves into overcoming resistance from leadership and frontline staff, integrating technology across settings, and using the EHR as a central hub for care. Attendees will gain insights into policy alignment, reimbursement challenges, and proven change management strategies, including Kaizen and continuous improvement models.
- Moderator: Julie Miller, BSN, RN, CCRN, Clinical Practice Specialist-Practice Excellence, American Association of Critical Care Nurses
- Cynthia Salisbury, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CPHQ, CPPS, Executive Director, Nursing Operations, Providence
- Denise Pimintel, RN, MN, MS, CCRN, System Manager, Telehealth, Clinical, CommonSpirit Telehealth Network
- Diane Murphy, MBA, System VP Nursing Transformation & Innovation Operations, CommonSpirit
- Melinda Stretzinger, RN, CCRN, Manager, Critical Care Telemedicine & Virtual Nursing, Ochsner Health
6:05 PM – 6:25 PM CT
Working Group Discussion
6:25 PM – 6:30 PM CT
Working Group Report-out’s
SUNDAY, MAY 4
7:30 – 8:45 AM CT
Working Breakfast
7:45 AM – 8:10 AM CT
Duke Health System Spotlight: Scaling Virtual Nursing & Next-Generation Virtual Care
As healthcare systems worldwide seek scalable, workforce-efficient care models, Duke University Health System (DUHS) has emerged as a global leader in virtual nursing and telehealth innovation. Through its Virtual Care Center, Duke has successfully implemented Virtual Nursing, Virtual Sitting, and Virtual Clinics, demonstrating proven clinical, operational, and financial outcomes.
- Noel Khirsukhani, Chief Growth Officer, Andor
- Donna Phinney, MSN, RN, Senior Director, Nursing, Duke Telehealth & Virtual Care Center, Digital Strategy Office, Duke University Health System
- Storm Patton, MMCi, BSN, RN, Nursing Informatics Systems Specialist, Strategic Associate, Duke University Health System
- Joanna Cavalier, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, General Internal Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine
8:10 AM – 8:45 AM CT
Industry Perspectives: The Future of AI in Virtual Nursing: Expert Insights & Innovations
Join leading industry experts for an interactive panel discussion on AI’s expanding role in virtual nursing. Panelists will share best practices for AI adoption, discuss real-world applications in clinical workflows, and explore how automation is shaping the future of nursing. Gain firsthand insights into the opportunities and challenges of AI-driven care models.
- Moderator: Brittany Cyriacks, MSN, RN, NI-BC, Clinical Informatics IT Program Manager, UCHealth
- Angel Bozard, MSN, RN, CENP, CNO, VirtuALLTY
- Michael Brandofino, President and COO, Caregility
- Bre Loughlin, MS, RN, Executive Director of Virtual Care Innovation, AvaSure
- Katie Ryan, DNP, MS, RN, CENP, CNO, Artisight
BREAK. Head to the NEXUS Main Stage
Working Lunch
12:15 PM – 12:55 PM CT
Optimizing AI in Virtual Nursing: Practical Strategies & Real-World Applications
From AI-enhanced documentation to predictive analytics, this session covers best practices for integrating AI into virtual nursing workflows. Explore how AI can support clinical decision-making, reduce nursing burden through automation, and improve patient engagement. Topics include ambient AI dictation, wearable technology for real-time monitoring, and leveraging AI for continuous learning and adaptation in patient care.
- Moderator: Teresa Rincon, PhD, RN, FCCM, Senior Director of Telehealth, PreBorn!, Assistant Professor Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing | UMass Chan Medical School and Telehealth Senior Consultant, Blue Cirrus
- Elliott Wilson, Principal, Flying Pig Consulting
- Julie Tuel, MSN, RN, System Vice President Virtual Care Nursing Practice Transformation, CommonSpirit
- Ankit Sakhuja, MBBS, MS, Associate Professor, Division of Data Driven and Digital Medicine, Department of Medicine and Institute for Critical Care Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine, Mt Sinai
- Fiona Winterbottom, DNP, MSN, APRN, ACNS-BC, ACHPN, CCRN, Principal, Virtual Critical Care, Clinical Nurse Specialist, Ochsner Health
12:55 PM – 1:15 PM CT
Working Group Discussion - Evaluating Tools
1:15 PM – 1:25 PM CT
Working Group Report-Out’s
Workshop Leadership
ATA’s Virtual Nursing efforts are led by Murielle Beene, DNP, MBA, MS-IT, RN, PMP, CPHIMS, FAAN, Chair of the Virtual Nursing Workshop and Chief Health Informatics Officer at Trinity Health, a national leader in health IT, digital transformation, and clinical innovation.
Dr. Beene is joined by a distinguished group of experts in virtual nursing, clinical transformation, and digital health innovation, representing leading health systems, academic institutions, and consulting organizations.
Julie Miller, BSN, RN, CCRN-K
Clinical Practice Specialist, Practice Excellence, American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)
Denise Pimentel, RN, MN, MS, CCRN-K
System Manager, Clinical, CommonSpirit Telehealth Network
Teresa Rincon, PhD, RN, FCCM
Assistant Professor, Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing, UMass Chan Medical School; Telehealth Senior Consultant, Blue Cirrusk
Melinda Stretzinger, RN, CCRN
Manager, Critical Care Telemedicine & Virtual Nursing, Ochsner Health
Chief Nursing Officer, Intercept Telehealth
Executive Director, Virtual Care Center, UNC Health Care
TeleCritical Care Nurse, VA TeleCritical Care System - West
Principal, Flying Pig Consulting
This leadership team brings extensive experience implementing, scaling, and optimizing virtual nursing programs, ensuring attendees gain insights from real-world success stories across diverse healthcare settings.
Virtual Nursing Workshop & Insights Program
Virtual Nursing in Action: Building Scalable, Data-Driven Programs for Impact & ROI
As virtual nursing evolves, health systems must establish clear goals, standardized metrics, and sustainable implementation strategies to ensure long-term success. This session provides a deep dive into ROI, clinical impact, and overcoming operational barriers, offering a roadmap for scaling virtual nursing.
Key Discussion Areas:
- Defining Virtual Nursing – Establishing a standardized, evidence-based definition aligned with best practices.
- National Metrics & ROI – Measuring impact through length of stay (LOS), readmission rates, HCAHPS scores, and nurse satisfaction.
- Data Strategy & Utilization – Extracting actionable insights from virtual nursing workflows, including throughput, efficiency, and clinical “great catches.”
- EHR & Workflow Optimization – Ensuring seamless integration, avoiding redundancies, and improving interoperability.
- Building a Sustainable Model – Addressing staffing models, labor calculations, and workforce well-being.
- Benchmarking Success – Defining key metrics to measure effectiveness and scalability.
Takeaways:
- Actionable guidance on building or expanding a virtual nursing program.
- Key evaluation criteria for success beyond financial ROI.
- Insights into data and workforce optimization strategies.
Speaker: Amy Hassell, RN, MSN, Chief Nursing Officer, UCHealth Virtual Health Center
Optimizing Workforce Strategies: Virtual Nursing Labor Calculations for Efficiency & Sustainability
Accurate labor calculations are essential for designing scalable and sustainable virtual nursing programs. This keynote fireside chat explores the critical factors in staffing models, balancing workload distribution, and optimizing efficiency to reduce clinician burnout while ensuring financial sustainability.
Key Insights
- Essential labor metrics for measuring virtual nursing program success.
- Workforce modeling strategies to balance virtual and bedside nursing roles.
- Lessons learned from real-world virtual nursing staffing implementation at Providence.
Speaker: Cynthia Salisbury, MSN, RN, NEA-BC, CPHQ, CPPS, Executive Director, Nursing Operations, Providence
Duke Health System Spotlight: Scaling Virtual Nursing & Next-Generation Virtual Care
Duke University Health System (DUHS) has emerged as a global leader in virtual nursing and telehealth innovation. Through its Virtual Care Center, Duke has implemented Virtual Nursing, Virtual Sitting, and Virtual Clinics, producing measurable clinical, operational, and financial outcomes.
Key Takeaways:
- Virtual Nursing Success – How Duke’s scalable model is tackling nursing shortages, reducing burnout, and improving patient outcomes.
- Proven ROI & Data-Driven Insights – Analytics, AI, and workforce modeling strategies driving measurable improvements.
- Global Recognition & Scalability – Why international health systems look to Duke as a model for virtual care at scale.
- Seamless Technology Integration – Leveraging Epic workflows, automation, and AI-powered insights.
Speakers:
- Donna Phinney, Director Duke Telehealth Office, Duke University Health System
- Blake Cameron, MD, MBI, Medical Director for Telehealth and Access Innovation,
Duke University School of Medicine - Storm Ness Patton, MMCi, BSN, RN, Nursing Informatics Systems Specialist/ Strategic Associate, Duke University Health System
- Joanna Cavalier, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Duke University Hospital
Scaling Virtual Nursing: Strategies for Growth, Integration & Organizational Buy-In
Expanding virtual nursing from a single unit to a system-wide initiative requires overcoming resistance from leadership and frontline staff, ensuring technology integration, and aligning policy and reimbursement models.
Key Discussion Areas:
- Strategies for scaling virtual nursing across multiple hospitals.
- Gaining organizational buy-in from leadership, specialists, and bedside teams.
- Technology integration for hospital-based and home-based virtual care models.
- Utilizing the EHR as a central hub to streamline workflows and data exchange.
- Policy & Payer Alignment – Navigating regulatory challenges and reimbursement models.
- Change Management Strategies – Building a culture of innovation and workforce engagement.
Industry Panel: The Future of AI in Virtual Nursing
AI is transforming virtual nursing—enhancing clinical workflows, decision-making, and automation. This interactive panel discussion will explore best practices for AI adoption and its impact on patient care.
Key Insights:
- Best practices for AI integration in clinical workflows.
- Automation in nursing – Reducing documentation burden and enhancing decision support.
- Future of AI-driven nursing models – The role of predictive analytics, ambient AI, and machine learning.
Optimizing AI in Virtual Nursing: Practical Strategies & Real-World Applications
From AI-enhanced documentation to predictive analytics, this session explores best practices for AI integration into virtual nursing workflows.
Discussion Topics:
- How AI supports clinical decision-making and workflow efficiency.
- Ambient AI for real-time dictation and documentation.
- Wearable technology for real-time patient monitoring.
- Leveraging AI for continuous learning and workforce adaptation.
- Teresa Rincon, PhD, RN, FCCM, Assistant Professor, Tan Chingfen Graduate School of Nursing, UMass Chan Medical School; Telehealth Senior Consultant, Blue Cirrus
- Elliott Wilson, Principal, Flying Pig Consulting
- Ankit Sakhuja, MBBS, MS, Associate Professor, Division of Data Driven and Digital Medicine, Department of Medicine and Institute for Critical Care Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine, Mt. Sinai
Industry Fireside Chat
Final Thoughts & Next Steps
- Workforce challenges & AI integration – Strategies for maintaining engagement and productivity.
- Overcoming infrastructure barriers – Addressing hardware, security, and data governance concerns.
- Aligning stakeholders – Ensuring clinician buy-in and leadership support.
- Actionable insights – Turning strategies into tangible initiatives for health systems.
Additional Information
Who Should Attend?
- Nursing & Clinical Leadership – Focused on workforce models and operational impact.
- Health System Executives & Administrators – Evaluating scalability and financial sustainability.
- IT & Digital Health Teams – Supporting technology integration and AI adoption.
- Payers & Policy Experts – Focused on reimbursement and regulatory alignment.
Virtual Nursing Workshop Working Breakfast and Lunch: Building the Future of Scalable, Data-Driven Nursing
The working breakfast and lunch sessions will provide a collaborative space for attendees to engage in deeper discussions, reflect on key takeaways from the workshop, and connect with industry leaders and peers to develop strategies for advancing virtual nursing within their own organizations.
Key Takeaways
- A deeper understanding of virtual nursing’s role in care delivery and workforce transformation.
- Best practices for scaling virtual nursing models while maintaining quality and efficiency.
- Insights from health systems leading the way in AI, automation, and data-driven virtual care.
- Opportunities to connect with industry experts and learn from real-world implementations.