The Growth of Telehealth
Telehealth solutions have been implemented for hospitals and other health providers as the industry aims toward a fee-for-value reimbursement processes. This model is designed to reward good healthcare practices and to stimulate improvement in providers offering less than expected outcomes. Looking to successful use of telehealth services we can examine Franciscan Alliance Accountable Care Organization Visiting Nurse Service. This group successfully reduced readmissions through the improved quality of their care for patients that are chronically ill.
Analytical software has been produced for this type of patient care and offers the physicians, nurses and other care givers precise clinical data on a real time basis which is designed to identify changes in the physical status of the patient. Remediation is immediately available which in most cases avoids a trip back to the hospital by the patient.
The data continues to build indicating a very high level of success associated with the telehealth approach. With the previous national level for hospital re-admissions at about 20% patients on the telehealth program have been readmitted a very impressive 5%. Additionally, 95% of the patients remained in the program as these individuals expressed a very high level of satisfaction. Data results indicate a high level of success, with improvement in cost savings and quality of care. Hospital readmission rates have since dropped to five percent (the national average is close to 20 percent) and there was a 95% patient retention rate in the program due to a high rate of patient satisfaction. Franciscan Alliance can and should be used as a model to improve patient outcomes following discharge from hospitals.
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