(January 14, 2014) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 1.5 million people in the US say “I do” to receiving care at home. But like any successful care plan, communication is crucial to helping patients stay engaged at home. Here’s how two Home Health customers are matching their patients with MEDITECH’s patient engagement solutions.
Shouting “Telehealth” from the Rooftops
For the Home Care division of Parkview Medical Center, MEDITECH’s Telehealth services have proved to be so much more than just a checkmark on the way to ARRA Stage 2.
“MEDITECH’s Telehealth has been a wonderful asset to our agency,” says Parkview Homecare Director Kelea Nardini. “We’re able to monitor patients’ health without being in the same room—and our workflow is a lot smoother now.”
Parkview, a Home Health 2.5 early adopter, noticed improved efficiency and more engaged patients just seven months after their implementation. Telehealth has allowed patients to monitor their own conditions in the comfort of their homes, with wireless devices that securely send their data to MEDITECH’s EHR.
“Has Telehealth empowered our patients to take better care of themselves? Absolutely! All of our Telehealth patients have successfully avoided hospital readmission within 60 days of their discharge.”
Embracing the Patient Portal
Meanwhile, Citizens Memorial Hospital (Bolivar, MO) is in their final planning phase to introduce MEDITECH’s Patient and Consumer Health Portal across all care settings. When it launches, all patients will receive a login to access their discharge instructions and health record—including summary of visits, lab results, and medications.
“Today, older generations are getting more comfortable with computers and smartphones,” says Jennifer Earl, systems analyst for continuing care. “Overall, we’re seeing a lot more interest in using technology for self care—especially in the home setting.”
Still, when rolling out the portal, Citizens staff found that giving patients printed signup instructions wasn’t particularly effective, especially for those who weren’t familiar with computers. That’s why the organization aims to sign patients up and fully introduce them to the portal and its benefits—before they depart the hospital.
“The idea of receiving care at home is a powerful motivator,” says Home Care Director Valerie Noblitt. “At home, you’re more comfortable, and you aren’t woken up every four hours. Plus, the portal makes it easier to be responsible and follow up with providers. Once patients see that—and understand that the portal will ultimately help them to stay out of the hospital—that’s often enough to get them excited about it.”