[tt] Tele-homecare reduces health care costs, improve patient care

[Hughes, James J.]

http://www.advamed.org/MemberPortal/About/NewsRoom/NewsReleases/pr-10-30-07-telehomecare_remote_monitoring_report.htm

http://www.advamed.org/NR/rdonlyres/2250724C-5005-45CD-A3C9-0EC0CD3132A1/0/TelehomecarereportFNL103107.pdf

Telehomecare, Remote Monitoring Technologies
Help Reduce Health Care Costs, Improve Patient Care

AdvaMed Report Focuses on Benefit for People with Diabetes,
Congestive Heart Failure and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Telehomecare and remote monitoring technologies can play a vital role in managing costly and debilitating chronic diseases, according to a new report released today by AdvaMed, the Advanced Medical Technology Association. The report describes how such technologies-which convey real-time, physiological information on a patient’s condition over the Internet or phone lines-enable physicians to adjust and tailor therapy to meet a patient’s changing needs in between visits to a health care provider.

“Telehomecare and remote monitoring are increasingly recognized as valuable tools for enhancing care quality in chronic disease management,” says lead researcher Max E. Stachura, M.D., Director of the Center for Telehealth at the Medical College of Georgia. “For patients, these technologies mean fewer office and emergency room visits, fewer and reduced duration of hospitalizations, less travel time and expense, and increased access-especially for the elderly, the physically challenged, the homebound, and rural patients. For clinicians, they mean more informed decision-making, enhanced patient compliance, and more efficient case management.”

“It is essential that public and private sector leaders who can influence health care payment policy recognize the potential for remote monitoring and telehomecare to improve care and efficiently manage resources for an aging population, as well as for patients living with chronic diseases,” says Stephen J. Ubl, president and CEO of AdvaMed. “Compelling evidence suggests that remote monitoring and telehomecare are economically viable, proven ways to help alleviate some of the growing pressures on health care spending.”

The report, which is based on a review of published studies on telehomecare and remote monitoring, as well as several current case studies, focused primarily on how these technologies have impacted the care of patients with diabetes, congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Among the findings in the report:

● A study of 281 congestive heart failure patients who received telehomecare found that they experienced a 60 percent reduction in hospital admissions, a 66 percent decline in emergency room visits and a 59 percent reduction in pharmacy utilization. In contrast, the control group experienced increases in all of these areas.

● When patients with severe respiratory illness requiring long-term oxygen therapy were remotely-monitored, hospital admissions decreased by 50 percent, acute clinical problems decreased 55 percent and hospitalization costs went down by 17 percent.

● A study of 400 diabetes patients found that those monitored by in-home glucose meters and video conferencing showed significantly greater improvement in reducing average blood sugar levels than those who did not receive such monitoring.

Access a copy of the full report, which is also available in the News Room section of AdvaMed’s Web site at www.advamed.org.