There are a number of reasons why patients are readmitted to the hospital within just days or weeks after their initial discharge. Some may be overwhelmed by their chronic illnesses, while others may not be adhering to discharge instructions or medication routines once they get home.
Healthcare organizations are challenged with finding out why patients end up back in the hospital and what they can do to minimize and prevent readmissions. One solution for Citizens Memorial Hospital/Citizens Memorial Health Care Foundation (CMH) in Bolivar, MO, is the use of MEDITECH’s telehealth solution, namely the telemonitoring component.
Keeping Patients Healthy and Costs Down
“We continue to make great strides with our telehealth program,” says Valerie Noblitt, RNBC, director of home care services at CMH. “For example, by monitoring vital signs, clinicians can catch a deviation before it becomes a major problem. By being able to intervene immediately, we can save the patient a trip to the ED.”
Jennifer Earl, the hospital’s information services director adds, “Once we introduce telehealth to our patients, they realize it’s an additional part of their care with a focus on prevention,” she says. “After all, no one really wants to go to the hospital and because of that, patients can use this tool to stay healthy.”
More often than not, seniors account for much of the home care population at Citizens. “Many of our patients are older, and they like telemonitoring because it's helping them manage their conditions and become more proactive about their health,” says Earl.The telehealth program at CMH is helping patients stay on track. In fact, the hospital’s readmission rate is below both the state and national average.
According to Noblitt, the organization has also experienced increased cost savings thanks to its telemonitoring program. "We have a little over 25 home health patients per year using telemonitoring, with an average of one 60-day episode each. When you include the cost of skilled nurses, and the mileage related to each visit—and in rural areas this can really add up—we have been able to save thousands of dollars per year."
"MEDITECH's intergrated EHR helps us promote care beyond the hospital," says Noblitt. “Physicians and clinicians can access their patients across the care continuum, view notes, vital signs, and track patients if they transition their care to a new setting. The MEDITECH solution is truly patient-centric and with its help, we are able to provide quality care in our community."