The purpose of this paper is to describe the program, patient and service level characteristics of the OTN Telehomecare program. Our study reports program users are generally elderly with a high prevalence of diabetes and hypertension, and taking five or more types of medications. Despite the program’s key goal to increase self-management through coaching, our results show patients are coached less frequently than planned at time of enrollment. The descriptive study provides a breakdown of remote monitoring and alert management. Program Volume and Process level characteristics Anyone eligible can be referred to the OTN Telehomecare program using a combination of pathways. Like other Canadian home-based monitoring programs, referrals can be made at point of discharge from a hospital, by a healthcare provider (including specialist) or independently (self) (26, 27). Program duration of six months on average is typical, if not longer in comparison with other such initiatives. For example, the Connected Cardiac Care Program (CCCP) in Massachusetts is a four month long program providing remote monitoring to HF patients (28). The University of Ottawa Heart Institute (UOHI) provides remote monitoring for advanced HF patients through the Telehome Monitoring Program for up to only three months (depending on severity of disease) (26). …show more content…
Our study shows any unplanned discharges (including request to leave, change in health status) usually occur in the first three months. A Cochrane review suggests that remote monitoring may be most useful for a specific period of time when the education and support is needed
When a patient is unable to make care decisions for themselves, it is necessary to involve those closest to them, most often family members. Providing a supporting environment to family members is another way that the best interest of the patient can be maintained. Families and friends can make a huge difference in the life of the patient after discharge. Instructing families in a way that is easy to understand helps eliminate potential barriers to communication. Families should be aware of what things to look for, what would constitute an emergency, and how to safely handle
Reimbursement policies prevent the total integration of telemedicine into health care practice (Prinz, 2008). Today, there is no overall telemedicine reimbursement policy in the federal health care system (HRSA, 2011 & OAT, 2003). As a result, reimbursement for telecare has been limited and somewhat haphazard. It’s up to each state to specify what telemedicine services, if any, are eligible for Medicaid reimbursement (HRSA, 2011 & OAT, 2003).
Technology has been the backbone of medicine since the beginning and its prevalence in medicine today is far reaching and wide spread. Due to research and ingenuity, medical breakthroughs via technology may be credited for many of the life saving techniques used in medicine today. Likewise, technology may also be credited with much of the expense of healthcare, including the growing baby boomer population and their chronic conditions. Of interest, telehealth has been an impetus for research over the last decade due to its promise of increasing efficiencies, quality of care, and decreasing cost. In spite of this research, one of the most expensive of chronic condition, cancer, is severally lacking in the literature regarding telehealth. Further, policy makers have identified 30 day readmission rates as a way to measure quality in healthcare and payers have started decreasing payments for readmissions. A review of the literature regarding telehealth and 30 day readmission rates, as well as the design of a clinical trial to study the effect of telehealth on 30 day readmission rates in cancer patients will be explored.
“Telemedicine is the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications to improve a patient’s clinical health status” (American Telemedicine Association, 2013). Telemedicine is the use of technology such as email, mobile devices, and computers to communicate health information (Mayoclinic.com, 2014). Telemedicine has enabled the use of communication technologies by healthcare professionals for the evaluation, diagnose, and the treatment of patients in rural areas (GlobalMed.com, 2014). Telemedicine is used in a variety of health care services like primary care, patients monitoring, health information sharing, health education (America Telemedicine Association, 2013). These services are delivered using various mechanisms such as video conferencing, personal health apps, e-visits (Mayoclinic.com, 2014). These technologies have been proven to increase access, to be cost efficient, to improve quality, and intensify patients’ satisfaction according to the America Telemedicine Association.
Morrissey, J. (2013, October 1). Telemedicine: “If you aren’t doing anything now, you’re way behind”. Hospitals & Health Networks, 87(10), 22-23.
The goal of Rural Telemental Health (RTH) is to increase the access to those in the rural regions of states by using teleconferencing, video-conferencing, emails, group video-conferencing and the telephone to help the geriatric patient improve depression. Telemental Health and/or Telemedicine will also improve communication and collaboration with a team of healthcare providers such as rural clinic nurses and primary care physicians while giving the rural geriatric population access to a much needed health service.
Using MDLIVE, Cigna healthcare subscribers have access to a board certified doctor 24 hours a day 365 days per year. In addition to saving you time, telehealth also saves you money. The service is much more affordable than going to the emergency room or urgent care clinic. People living in rural areas or those unable to drive also benefit by having healthcare professionals available where they need them. This is more than just talking to a doctor on the phone. Through live video encounters, the doctor can perform an examination, evaluate the patient’s condition, and write a prescription for medication. Next year, Cigna will partner with AMWELL to provide behavioral health services through
Improving health is in the best interest of everyone, including non-health professionals. Health managers need to be constantly looking for ways to improve access to health care, the quality of the care, and cost containment. Often, the biggest barriers to accessing healthcare are cost and location. Lower income individuals just do not have the resources to have optimal healthcare, or cannot take the time away from employment to deal with health issues. One potential solution to help with these problems could be “telehealth.”
We live in the era of technology and telehealth is becoming a part of our lives. According to Guido (2014), telehealth Is a removal of time and distance barriers for the delivery of health care services and related health care activities. Internet and other communication technologies are the means for health care professionals to practice across state lines.
Telemedicine is a new comer to the field of medicine and it is the treatment of patients by means of telecommunications technology. Telemedicine is carried out in a variety of ways whether it is by smart phone, wireless tools or other forms of telecommunications. Examples of telemedicine include: 1) transmission of medical images 2) care services at the home of the patient 3) Diagnosis at distance 4) education and training of patients. The diversity of practices in what is known as telemedicine raises many questions and one of those questions, which is extremely important, relate to the safety of the practice and the risks involved.
Sevean, P., Dampier, S., Spadoni, M., Strickland, S., Pilatzke, S., (2008). Patients and families experiences with video telehelath in rural/remote communities in northern canada. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 18. 2573-2579.
A., Pomerleau, S. G., & Penner, J. L., “Knowing is a process of perceiving and understanding the Self and the world”. Nurses as caregivers must appreciate each patient for who they are as individuals. The nurse must also know how to provide nursing care with the knowledge he/she gains from experience in the field. Caring is the main component needed for a nurse to give quality care to a patient. The nurse must assess the needs of a patient and direct the patient plan of care around the patient’s ability to engage in his/her own rehabilitation. Nurses must create a genuine relationship with the patient in order to determine how much their patient is willing to participate in their care. Nurses have always used their visual instincts in patient care. There has always been a face to face where the patient is physically in front the nurse. Telenursing is different because nurses no longer can rely on face to face interaction with their patients. In order to facilitate care over the phone nurses need to know their patient to provide individual care and ensure the safety of the patient with the nurses’ judgment. Not only can phone conversations be taken out of context so can emails and text messages. The nurse must have a strong bond with their patients so this type of complication will not occur. Another problem when using any form of communication that is not face to face is that it is not always possible to express empathy or build a sense of unity. Patients need to feel that the person on the other end cares. The tone a person takes on the phone can either make or break a relationship. In some conditions telenursing is not always appropriate, for instance a patient who is suffering from a deadly condition. Telephone and computers cannot provide compassion like a real person. In the end telenursing is a valuable service to patients but it is not
We at Capstone Health Consultants are pleased to provide the Board of Directors of Utopia University Medical Center our recommendations regarding design, development, and deployment of a multi-disciplinary Telemedicine program for outlying clinics.
When someone has diabetes it takes a lot of education to learn to live with it and to control blood sugar levels each and every day. An advancement that was tested in a survey in Jan. of 2002 is the telehomecare technology. This device allows diabetic patients to communicate with the nurses at home through a computer and video equipment that transmits voice, objective data, and video over ordinary telephone lines. This device was made to help health status, quality of life for the patients, and convenient costs along with satisfaction.
Your patient is having difficulty breathing and increased heart rate. You are unable to physically touch the patient, but you are able to see them and communicate with them. What advice would you give to your patient? Telenursing is up and coming and a new trend of nursing that monitors the patients in their home. The nurse assists the patient by” gathering information, assessing the client’s needs, providing health information and health consultations” (Kamei, T. (n.d.). As a nurse is this a setting you would like to work in? This article will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of telenursing and help this writer make a decision if telenursing if right for her.