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Telehealth Service Improves Quality of Life
VNA Care Network & Hospice's telehealth technology is improving the quality of life for patients who have congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, and other chronic conditions as well as patients at risk for re-hospitalization.
Telehealth is a way for VNA Care Network & Hospice's health care professionals to know how patients are doing between in-person visits. The small, easy-to-use telehealth unit connects to a blood pressure cuff, scale, and other devices that take measurements important to patients' health. The display uses large text, graphics, and audio to walk patients through the measurements. The telehealth unit can also be customized to ask people questions about their health, provide education about their illness, and give helpful reminders such as when to take medications.
The information is sent over a toll-free telephone line where it is reviewed by a VNA Care Network & Hospice nurse. Patients' doctors may also review the data via e-mail, fax, or Internet. The equipment does not interfere with incoming and outgoing telephone calls.
Since the units were introduced in June 2007 through the end of the year, telehealth patients' data has shown:
- Higher levels of improvement in pain
- Less frequent occurrences of shortness of breath
- Improved medication management
- Higher rates of remaining at home at the end of service
- Lower acute care hospitalization rates
"Patients really enjoy using the new telehealth units. They take an active role in their health by monitoring their blood pressure and other measurements between nursing visits," said Kerry Demers, RN, regional clinical director for VNA Care Network & Hospice.
Telehealth is included in some patients' home health or hospice care at no cost to the patient. The service is also available for a monthly fee to patients who did not receive a telehealth unit as part of their care or to those who are not currently patients.
For more information, call VNA Care Network & Hospice at 800-728-1862. Read more about telehealth by downloading the fall 2007 issue of The Caring Connection.
Posted: Feb. 15, 2008