AdventHealth Castle Rock launches Virtual Admit Nursing pilot to support bedside care

AdventHealth Castle Rock has begun a pilot of Virtual Admit Nursing to shift parts of the inpatient admission process off the bedside and into a virtual workflow. The program, launched in January 2026, places trained virtual nurses to complete or assist with admissions between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m., allowing bedside nurses to concentrate on hands-on patient care.

Castle Rock is serving as the pilot site for both the AdventHealth Rocky Mountain Region and the broader AdventHealth system. The initial inpatient units participating are 3N and 4N, which volunteered to test the model. Hospital leaders say the pilot was enabled by the rollout of hellocare Smart Room technology in September 2025, which hospital communications describe as making remote admissions feasible and more streamlined.

Ellery Reed, DNP, RN, Chief Nursing Officer at AdventHealth Castle Rock, framed the change as a direct support for bedside practice. “Virtual Admit Nursing allows bedside nurses to spend more time connecting with patients and providing hands-on care, while also creating more efficient workflows that help the care team meet patient needs more quickly and effectively,” Reed said. Sarah Zadigan, MSN, RN, Director of Nursing Services and Excellence, added context about why the model matters to workflow and patient experience. “Historically, bedside nurses completed the full admission process, which is time-intensive and can compete with direct patient care needs,” Zadigan said. She also said, “Virtual Admit Nursing enhances efficiency, supports nursing practice at the bedside, and improves the patient admission experience without losing the human connection that defines nursing care.”

AdventHealth Castle Rock messaging further emphasized the value of calmer interactions at admission. “Even when we try to hide it, patients can feel when we’re rushed. More time allows us to slow down and focus on our mission of extending the healing ministry of Christ, where human connection is vital,” the organization said.

For Douglas County residents, the pilot could translate into shorter wait times during admission, more face time with bedside nurses, and a smoother intake experience for patients and families. Public health implications include potential improvements in care quality and patient safety when nurses can prioritize assessments and bedside interventions. The model also speaks to staffing and retention pressures facing local hospitals, since reducing administrative burden is a common strategy to reduce burnout.

AdventHealth says it will refine processes during the pilot and intends to expand the model across the Rocky Mountain Region once workflows are validated. The hospital has not published staffing counts or a rollout timetable, and the operating cadence beyond the confirmed 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. window has not been fully detailed. Residents and healthcare partners should watch for pilot metrics, patient satisfaction results, and further announcements about systemwide expansion as the hospital evaluates outcomes and equity implications for access to care.