Treating patients who have chronic diseases accounts for approximately 86 percent of U.S. healthcare costs.1
That staggering figure is part of the reason most of the industry is concentrating on developing cost-effective ways to deliver preventive care for these patients. Improved chronic condition monitoring can help avoid adverse health events that result in a hospital admission, but the efficiency and cost control for this type of proactive care is a concern.
One increasingly common solution is telehomecare-delivered remote patient monitoring. In fact, the number of remotely monitored patients grew by 44 percent to 7.1 million in 2016, with the number of remotely monitored patients projected to grow 47.9 percent annually to reach 50.2 million by 2021.2
The primary reason why telehomecare is growing at this rate is because it allows patients with chronic conditions to virtually connect with their provider for ongoing health maintenance without leaving their home, which may be a challenge for some depending on their age and mobility. With growing evidence supporting telehomecare’s positive effects on clinical outcomes, combined with seniors’ rapid technology adoption, now seems to be the ideal time to begin offering video conferencing to home health patients.
However, not every type of web conferencing technology is suitable for telehomecare, especially when efficiency and care quality are top concerns. Easy-to-use, cloud-based platforms that help providers deliver care from anywhere without complicated technical hurdles is key, as is high-quality video and sound to closer simulate an in-person encounter.
Telehomecare research encouraging
With the rapid pace of technological advancements, but the slow pace of medical research, the evidence supporting telehomecare is only starting to emerge, but it is increasingly encouraging for providers and patients.
Published this year, a wide-reaching study of telehealth used to promote better self-management of diabetes, heart failure, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cancer found that such interventions improved glycemic control in type 2 diabetes, as well as reduced mortality and hospital admissions in heart failure.3 Authors also found that more intensive and multifaceted telehealth interventions were associated with greater improvements in diabetes, heart failure and asthma, in particular.
Unrelated to health outcomes specifically, but perhaps the most compelling statistic demonstrating the potential for video conferencing for home health concerns technology adoption among Americans age 65 and older. The Pew Research Center reported in May that 42 percent those seniors own smartphones, a significant jump from just 18 percent in 2013.4 In addition, 67 percent of seniors use the internet—a 55-percentage-point increase in just under two decades.
These adoption trends are relevant considering that 92 percent of older adults have at least one chronic condition and 77 percent have two.5 Along with the evidence of improving outcomes, it seems there is an opportunity now for healthcare organizations to begin offering telehomecare options for these senior and younger patients.
Simplicity and security essential
Regardless of the patient’s age or condition, the telehealth web conferencing technology used to monitor patients should meet several criteria, considering the financial and time pressures on healthcare providers and the confidentiality surrounding patient information.
The first criterion is that the telehomecare monitoring platform should be easy to use so providers can remain productive and concentrate on helping patients adhere to chronic-condition maintenance regimens. Such features would include controls that only need a one-time configuration based on physician preferences, as well as a streamlined sign-on and authentication process.
A cloud-based implementation behind a hospital network firewall would offer data security, while alleviating the hospital from purchasing additional server hardware. Security can be further enhanced with data encryption capabilities that support HIPAA compliance and patient privacy protection.
The web conferencing technology for home health should also offer simplicity and flexibility on the patient side, such as accessibility on a mobile or desktop device. Easy-to-use functionality helps make the reoccurring virtual appointments more convenient while allowing patients to focus on their condition, which can encourage greater patient and provider engagement.
The patient experience would further be enhanced if the platform offers high-definition video and audio for a more personal, life-like experience. Enhanced video and audio clarity can help providers detect potential health issues that the patient has not mentioned, or may even notice.
Bridging health gaps remotely
With a positive user experience and secure data exchange, offering telehomecare services is achievable and can be beneficial for provider organizations and patients. Advanced web conferencing technology can be the bridge to help patients better manage their chronic conditions, reducing avoidable readmissions and improving patient engagement and outcomes.
About the author:
Tom Toperczer is director of product management for Brother. With more than 20 years of experience in the video conferencing industry, Toperczer supports OmniJoin, the company’s web conferencing service with a growing healthcare segment.
The views, opinions and positions expressed within these guest posts are those of the author alone and do not represent those of Becker's Hospital Review/Becker's Healthcare. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The copyright of this content belongs to the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with them.