Lee Health, one of Florida’s largest non-profit health systems, has announced a significant expansion of its Virtual Nursing Program in partnership with telehealth provider Caregility. This latest development will see the integration of Caregility’s APS200 Duo dual-camera telehealth devices across nearly 1,000 inpatient rooms, effectively doubling the hospital system’s virtual care capacity.
The initiative is part of Lee Health’s broader strategy to modernize its healthcare delivery through digital health innovations. By incorporating advanced virtual nursing tools, the health system aims to address ongoing workforce shortages, streamline patient care processes, and improve overall patient outcomes.
“The growth of our telehealth options accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Rick Schooler, Chief Information Officer at Lee Health. “We’ve since evolved our virtual care capabilities to encompass an award-winning inpatient virtual observation program and now virtual nursing, using improved technology to help our clinical staff.” Schooler emphasized the value of virtual care in ensuring continuous support for medical teams while enhancing clinical efficiency.
The expanded program is expected to touch multiple stages of the patient journey, offering virtual assistance from admissions to discharge, as well as ongoing patient monitoring. Lee Health’s Chief Nursing Officer, Jennifer Higgins, highlighted the impact this could have on nursing workflows: “Virtual nursing introduces innovative possibilities in patient care workflows by allowing nurses to dedicate more time to patients requiring hands-on care. We anticipate that this additional layer of support will enhance patient outcomes.”
Leveraging Caregility’s Telehealth Platform
The foundation of Lee Health’s virtual nursing expansion is built on Caregility’s cloud-based telehealth platform, which supports remote monitoring, virtual consultations, and continuous patient observation. Wendy Deibert, Chief Nursing Officer at Caregility, underscored the importance of having “eyes and ears in every room,” adding that this infrastructure enables remote caregivers to assist bedside staff effectively.
According to the company, the APS200 Duo telehealth devices are designed to support multiple clinical workflows simultaneously, a key feature that facilitates seamless virtual care. Caregility’s CEO, Ron Gaboury, remarked, “With our edge-processing, dual-camera devices, we’re providing a scalable solution that supports long-term hospital room innovation, enabling care teams to maximize virtual workflows while minimizing operational challenges.”
This technological flexibility ensures that telehealth devices are continuously operational, supported by Caregility’s remote fleet management tools and cloud-based updates. This mitigates the need for intensive on-site maintenance and reduces the overall cost burden for the health system.
A Model for Future Digital Health Innovation
Lee Health’s use of telehealth is not new but has expanded rapidly since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially, the health system deployed Caregility’s virtual care tools to manage outpatient visits and staff health screenings. These tools helped Lee Health respond to increased demand for care while minimizing risks associated with in-person visits.
The health system’s telehealth offerings now encompass a wide range of services, from virtual rounds and family visits to critical care support in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and Emergency Department. Virtual care solutions, such as iConsult, enable patient connections with clinicians and family members, even during restricted visitation periods. This comprehensive telehealth infrastructure has allowed Lee Health to deliver over 1,000 telehealth sessions per day, further streamlining its care delivery processes.
Looking ahead, Lee Health’s partnership with Caregility is seen as laying the groundwork for future advances at the intersection of virtual and AI-driven care. Gaboury suggested that the expansion sets a solid foundation for integrating artificial intelligence and machine learning into everyday healthcare workflows, enhancing decision-making, and improving patient outcomes.
By leveraging these innovations, Lee Health is poised to remain at the forefront of digital health in the United States. Both organizations believe this collaboration exemplifies how healthcare systems can modernize care delivery and overcome challenges such as workforce shortages and increased patient demand.
For more information, visit Lee Health’s Telemedicine Services and Caregility’s Telehealth Solutions.
