Seniors & Disease
Researchers have begun to conclude that telehealth works best with those patients who need the most frequent contact, such as those with chronic diseases such as diabetes or congestive heart failure (CHF) (Kinsella, 2003b)
This is a large patient group; according to a 2007 study more than half of Americans suffer from one or more chronic diseases (Milken Institute, 2007)
Home care agencies have begun to respond and indeed, two-thirds of home care agencies that already provide telehealth services report that they use telehealth as part of a chronic disease management program (Fazzi Associates, 2008)
Patients with chronic diseases have more visits to the emergency room, a higher rate of hospitalizations, a higher risk of being institutionalized, and are more costly than the average patient (Fazzi Associates, 2008)
On discharge from the hospital to their homes, patients with chronic disease often need a great deal of support including compliance with medications and treatments, improved health behavior coaching, and symptom management.
Instead of visiting the patient on a scheduled basis, perhaps two or three time a week, telehealth technology allows care providers to monitor the patient daily and make real-time identifications and interventions in the care of their patients. These early interventions are vital to the improvement of symptom management and reduction in unnecessary health care encounters such as hospitalization or emergency room visits. Remote monitoring can lead to stable symptom management, improved health behaviors, and compliance with medications and treatments. Furthermore, the operational efficiencies created by telehealth can have a financial benefit to the care agency.
