Research published in The American Journal of Managed Care has revealed the ability telehealth has in ensuring seniors are not unnecessarily hospitalized. The study, conducted by TripleCare physicians' group and the TRECS (Targeting Revolutionary Elder Care Solutions) Institute, employed telemedicine services to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) in New York overnight during the week and throughout the weekend. Over the course of the year the study recorded that 29 percent of patients evaluated avoided a hospital visit, in turn saving over $1.55 million. In addition to providing care for seniors, telehealth can also help prevent costly emergency room visits. "Telemedicine is part of that solution; by leveraging technology, we can improve the quality of both primary and acute care in nursing facilities, transforming care and often preventing the trauma associated with hospitalization in the elderly. The study’s authors claim that if implemented more broadly, Medicare would save $500,000 annually in a 120-bed facility. Within the study, the physicians were entirely dedicated to the SNF and did not work in an emergency department or hospital. As well as supporting the SNF’s nursing team, the program ensured that the facility did not lose money if patients were sent to hospital and that nurses improved their assessment abilities. As higher-acuity patients require treatment within more nursing facilities, telehealth services will be needed to ensure that high quality clinical outcomes can be provided at a fraction of the cost of a hospitalization.
Research published in The American Journal of Managed Care has revealed the ability telehealth has in ensuring seniors are not unnecessarily hospitalized. The study, conducted by TripleCare physicians' group and the TRECS (Targeting Revolutionary Elder Care Solutions) Institute, employed telemedicine services to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) in New York overnight during the week and throughout the weekend. Over the course of the year the study recorded that 29 percent of patients evaluated avoided a hospital visit, in turn saving over $1.55 million. In addition to providing care for seniors, telehealth can also help prevent costly emergency room visits. The study’s authors claim that if implemented more broadly, Medicare would save $500,000 annually in a 120-bed facility. Within the study, the physicians were entirely dedicated to the SNF and did not work in an emergency department or hospital. As well as supporting the SNF’s nursing team, the program ensured that the facility did not lose money if patients were sent to hospital and that nurses improved their assessment abilities. As higher-acuity patients require treatment within more nursing facilities, telehealth services will be needed to ensure that high quality clinical outcomes can be provided at a fraction of the cost of a hospitalization.