More must be done to improve care for rural hospital patients, American Journal of Managed Care contributor Jenny Schneider, MD, said in a May 22 article.
Dr. Schneider is the CEO of Homeward, an organization focused on improving access to high-quality, affordable, comprehensive care in rural communities.
Expanded access to cellular-based remote patient monitoring is needed, she said. This can play a critical role in reducing spending and improving outcomes for people in rural areas who struggle with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other chronic conditions, she said. Remote monitoring devices can detect dysrhythmia and alert providers and plans in real time, giving clinicians time to stage a lifesaving intervention, she said.
Dr. Schneider also said that the chain clinic model that has achieved success in urban and suburban communities cannot be relied on in rural areas. In rural communities, neighbors, let alone hospitals, may be tens of miles away. To reach people in rural communities, a hybrid model of care must be adopted that encompasses partnerships with trusted community providers, mobile clinicians, virtual care and remote patient-monitoring devices.
"The tools we need to achieve long-term stability for community providers and ensure better outcomes for rural Americans are available to us," she said. "I encourage CMS to help us use them."
Read the full article here.