Page 9 Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring RPM Provider Case Studies 2013 Ideal Life

26

telehealth equipment was installed and medication pulmonary disease patients. One hundred twenty-
reconciliation was completed in the patient’s home. six patients declined participation in the program.
Daily, patients collected their blood pressure, pulse, Fifty-six percent of the participating patients were
weight and oxygen saturation level, which were en- African American females. Patient ages ranged
crypted and sent to a secure cloud server. Data were from 19 to 101 years of age with thirty-two per-
reviewed by a nurse and actions or interventions cent of patients between the ages of 18-59, which
were taken as needed. was significantly higher than expected. Fifty-four
percent had a primary diagnosis of hypertension
Telehealth and RPM System Type and thirty-three percent had a primary diagnosis of

Vidant Health used Ideal Life’s real-time biometric heart failure.
RPM system. CVD and pulmonary disease hospitalized patients

Telehealth and RPM System Embodiment were identified through Vidant Health’s electronic
health records (EHR). Once identified, the patient
The systems chosen were single-user/patient home completed a 13-question Patient Activation Mea-
base units and a multi-user unit/kiosk for employee surement (PAM) tool. The answers were recorded
wellness. in Vidant Health’s EHR and patient engagement

scores (0-100) and patient engagement levels (I-IV)
Business Model were determined. If the CVD and/or pulmonary
Vidant Health’s business model is to reduce un- patient was a PAM Level I or II, the patient was
necessary hospital readmissions, emergency room approached by a telehealth nurse technician (TNT)
visits and lower hospital bed days to lower costs, in the hospital. The patient and family were in-
maximize reimbursement, and avoid Medicare formed of the program and consent to participate
re-admission penalties. During the business plan was obtained. Following patient approval, the TNT
development, initial assessment identified Medi- contacted the patient’s doctor or care manager for
care, self-insured and uninsured cardiovascular dis- an electronic referral to the telehealth program.
ease (CVD) and pulmonary disease patients as the Upon hospital discharge, the TNT scheduled a time
initial patient population. After the first six months to come to the patient’s home to install the equip-
of implementation, the program began accepting ment, conduct a home safety assessment, train and
any CVD and/or pulmonary patients regardless of validate the competency of the patient in the use of
payer. During the first year, 56% of patients who the equipment, and collect the patient’s medications
completed monitoring were Medicare, 14% Med- and compare medications at home to the hospital
icaid, and 11% self-pay. Vidant Health is currently discharge medication list. If there was a discrep-
analyzing year one data to include hospital bed ancy, the TNT contacted the telehealth nurse who
days, charges, costs and reimbursement. followed up with the patient’s primary care physi-
cian to perform medication reconciliation.
Implementation Approach

During the first year of the telehealth program, On a daily basis, the patient self-collected his or her
data (BP, pulse, oxygen, weight, FSBS) which were
Vidant Health enrolled 1,323 cardiovascular and

LeadingAge Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST)