Optum, Owensboro Health Expand Virtual Nursing Program

The virtual nursing teams have also completed about 5,800 medication verifications, returning an estimated 1,700 hours to bedside nurses.

Kentucky-based Owensboro Health and Optum Insight have partnered to expand a virtual nursing model that pairs virtual nurses with bedside teams to support admissions, discharges, medication reconciliation, and care coordination.

The program, launched in 2024, has recorded more than 30,000 patient interactions, including support for 3,600 admissions and 2,000 discharges, according to Optum. The virtual nursing teams have also completed about 5,800 medication verifications, returning an estimated 1,700 hours to bedside nurses.

The virtual nurses work from Owensboro Health hospitals and collaborate with frontline nursing teams during patient care. By handling selected administrative and coordination tasks remotely, the model is designed to give bedside nurses more time for direct patient care.

In July 2026 alone, the virtual nursing teams returned 337 hours to bedside staff by supporting admissions and discharges. That equates to about 11 additional hours per day for frontline nurses to focus on patient care.

Erin Satterwhite, CEO of Optum Insight Provider, said the organizations' three-year collaboration, which includes IT and other services, provided the foundation for developing and integrating the virtual nursing program into existing workflows.

Medication management is another focus of the model. Virtual nurses can connect more directly with pharmacy teams to verify patients' existing medications, ensure they are documented during a hospital stay and support medication reconciliation at discharge.

The virtual nurses also help ensure medications required after discharge are sent to the pharmacy, according to Optum.

Joni Sims, R.N., chief nursing officer at Owensboro Health, said the program is intended to support nurses rather than replace them, particularly as patient needs increase and nursing teams face workforce pressures.

The model also provides greater flexibility for nurses who may be unable to perform all physical requirements of bedside care. Nurses recovering from injuries or facing other physical limitations can continue working with patients through virtual roles.

Because the virtual nursing teams are located within the same hospital buildings, they can also respond to certain technical or patient-care issues in person when needed, including problems with cameras or other equipment.

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