Bryan-based Texas A&M Health Science Center released a report that reviewed its telemonitoring technology used to reach patients in rural and underserved areas in the state.
When physicians receive alerts on a patient's health, staff contact the patient to determine if medical assistance is necessary. Texas A&M is using the home health monitoring system to measure blood pressure and blood glucose levels in patients.
Since launching the program, Texas A&M has seen success in treating patients in rural areas.
"Cost-effective, semi-automated telemonitoring systems have the potential to improve the health of the population through increased access to quality medical care," said Hye-Chung Kum, associate professor at Texas A&M University Health Science Center.
However, the university has faced some challenges with the telemonitoring technology.
"We must address organizational, cultural and societal barriers by involving a wide range of stakeholders in our research, including the staff and medical assistants who receive, organize and summarize the telemonitoring data, in addition to physician who review the data," said Farzan Sasangohar, PhD, co-author of the report.
Texas A&M is working to overcome the disconnect patients may feel when connecting with a physician via telemonitoring technology.
To read the full report, click here.