Research published in Medicare 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 N.Y. overnight during the weekend and throughout the weekend . Aug 20 2018 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 . 313 patients were cared for over the year via telemedicine, with 54 treated at the TripleCare and the remaining 54 hospitalized. 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 Medicare 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 N.Y. overnight during the weekend 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 . 313 patients were cared for over the year via telemedicine, with 54 treated at the TripleCare and the remaining 54 hospitalized. 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.