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Telemonitoring Helps Improve Quality of Life
By Sandra J. McLaughlin, RN
What is Telemonitoring?
Telemonitoring (or Telehealth) is remote monitoring of a patient’s clinical information that helps doctors and nurses identify issues of concern before they become a problem. Done properly, Telehealth can reduce the need for emergency services and costly hospitalizations, thus improving patients’ health. Telehealth is used to help patients with chronic diseases achieve a better quality of life, have greater understanding of their condition, and receive timely clinical feedback.
How does Telehealth work?
At Bayada Nurses, patients in the program monitor their heart rate, weight and blood pressure daily using a wireless scale and blood pressure monitor system. The wireless devices automatically send real time data to the Telehealth nurses who monitor the readings daily.
The Telehealth system provides an alert on readings that fall outside acceptable levels specified by the patient’s physician. The system also sends alerts to the patients' doctors, so they can adjust medication quickly or intervene in other necessary ways.
With Bayada’s Telehealth program, hospitalizations have been reduced by 54 percent. Telehealth is a way for the patient and the home care nurse to stay connected between visits, and provide valuable information to improve outcomes by providing for timely intervention.
What kinds of conditions can be monitored remotely?
Bayada Nurses monitors patients with uncontrolled Hypertension, COPD and Congestive Heart Failure. Without remote monitoring, problems can go unnoticed for several days, as people with chronic conditions may not notice or report subtle changes. For example, a weight gain of 3 lbs. for someone with congestive heart failure can indicate fluid retention, a potentially serious event. The system’s alert will enable the nurse and physician to intervene, and avoid a crisis. Only a nurse or physician can determine if someone is a candidate for telemonitoring – not all homebound patients will qualify.
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