Why Vanderbilt nurses check in on chronic disease patients via telehealth

Nashville, Tenn.-based Vanderbilt University Medical Center checks in on high-risk chronic disease patients with telehealth calls from a registered nurse to try to keep them out of the hospital.

Advertisement

Vanderbilt Home Care Services’ chronic disease management program treats patients with heart failure, COPD, diabetes and pneumonia and after coronary artery bypass surgery or heart attacks. The telehealth visits complement in-person appointments and traditional home health services.

“Our hope is that someday we can provide these telehealth services across our entire home health agency,” program leader Kristina Niehoff, PharmD, said in a June 15 news release. “In the future, we also hope we can be reimbursed for these telehealth services. Many home health patients can benefit from check-in calls from a nurse to address their health goals, management of their chronic conditions, and to ensure they have the appropriate medicines, supplies and education to successfully manage their health at home.”

During its first year, the program followed 296 chronic disease patients for an average of 32 days. Hospital readmission rates have been lower for those patients than Vanderbilt’s general home care population.

At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.

Register to Attend Webinar

The hidden cost of lost clinical time and how leading health systems are responding

Friday, August 7
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM CDT

Presenters: Kassaundra McKnight-Young, Zebra TechnologiesGregory Carras, Zebra TechnologiesJennifer Gene, Levata

Advertisement

Next Up in Telehealth

Advertisement

Comments are closed.