Telemonitoring Improves At-Home Care

Telemonitoring consists of an in-home communication device that uses telephone lines to securely collect and transmit important, timely information about patient conditions. A nurse evaluates the information daily from a central "station" in the Holland Hospital Home Care office.

"This capability establishes a higher standard of care for home health services," says Jan Langeland, director of Holland Hospital Home Care Programs.

Up-to-the-minute health monitoring
By keeping close tabs on homebound patients, the telemonitoring system can readily identify variations in vital signs, such as blood pressure, pulse, blood oxygen saturation levels and weight, as well as gather information about symptoms and patient behavior. Armed with this up-to-the-minute health data, the Home Care team can quickly respond to changes in the patient’s condition, thereby reducing the need for re-hospitalization.

An additional benefit is that Home Care staff can provide the patient’s physician with a record of important information between medical examinations.

"Telemonitoring enables the Home Care staff to respond with a nurse visit when indicated by changes in the patient’s condition, rather than based on a predetermined schedule," notes Langeland. "The patients gain the peace of mind associated with knowing that nursing staff are monitoring them every day."

In addition, because telemonitoring requires patients to respond to diagnosis-specific questions on a daily basis, patients are motivated to take a more active role in their own care plan; independence is encouraged. The result is a more stable health status and a better quality of life.

Impressive results
Daily home monitoring has proven especially useful for patients with heart failure, as evidenced by the significant reduction in emergency room admissions and hospitalizations for patients participating in these programs. Patients with unstable blood pressure, chronic lung disease, post-operative coronary artery bypass grafts or frequent "ups and downs" in their condition are also strong candidates for telemonitoring.

Telemonitoring units were placed in the homes of about a dozen Home Care patients in 2006. "The response is overwhelmingly positive," says Langeland. "Patients are able to use the equipment without difficulty, and physicians are very supportive of the program."

More than 50 units will be in use when the program is fully implemented.

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