Delivering high quality care with the assistance of technology.
For patients recently discharged from the hospital or those who have an increased risk of hospitalization, telehealth provides an additional layer of support. Telehealth, which includes a broad range of technologies and services used to provide care and services at a distance, is changing the landscape of medical care in a monumental way.
Improving Patient Care
Remote patient monitoring is a type of telehealth in which healthcare providers monitor patients outside the traditional care setting using digital medical devices, such as weight scales, blood pressure monitors, pulse oximeters and blood glucose meters. Simply put, it allows patients to monitor their day-to-day health at home utilizing easy-to-use technology that relays their personal information, including their vitals, to a clinician’s office. If there’s anything “off,” the appropriate health care workers will be alerted. This allows providers to manage acute and chronic conditions from ‘afar’ on a daily basis which cuts down on infection risk and helps reduce hospital readmissions – not only keeping healthcare costs down but reducing patient stress. Telehealth is also a perfect companion for those living with a chronic illness such as COPD, cardiac/pulmonary diseases, Dementia/Alzheimer’s and renal diseases.
Benefits of VNA's Telehealth Program
- Vital sign and symptom monitoring to promote early intervention
- Medication reminders to track medication adherence
- Educational videos to foster engagement and facilitate learning
- Individualized care plans
- Peace of mind for physicians and patients
- Improves patient care
- No additional costs to patients
To be considered for telehealth at the VNA, a patient must first be referred for a separate home health issue. The admitting nurse then determines whether the patient would benefit from telehealth services.
Telehealth services are provided at no additional cost to VNA patients through the generosity of philanthropic partners and the United Way. If you’d like to make a donation to support Remote Patient Monitoring and Telehealth, click here.