Page 30 Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring RPM for Long Termand Post Acute Care A Primer and Provider Selection Guide 2013

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specific conditions, post-acute, rural, facility- the software products and will result in lower
based, those that require video-based visits, telehealth program operating costs.
or those that require additional activity and/ Be sure to understand internet and mobile
or safety monitoring. Many organizations will access requirements, interfacing opportunities
have a need to address several different types with current EHR systems, potential
of patient populations so it is critical to select customization requests, reporting options,
a vendor partner that can match the telehealth inventory management systems and any other
solution that will meet the organization’s systems-specific factors that will potentially
needs. assist in the organization’s successful

• Technology Review implementation of a telehealth program.
Learn about the types of telehealth and • Access Requirements
RPM technologies, how they functionally Understand how the organization and provider
operate and what network infrastructure partners will access the telehealth information,
and connectivity they require. For example, who will need to access the information
some technologies are designed to help and what unique types of information each
individuals with chronic care management and recipient will need to access. It is important
post-acute care management by identifying to understand not only whether the telehealth
disease exacerbation risks and alerting health solution meets the unique organizational
care professionals with a goal to help avoid needs, but also the requirements of any care
unnecessary hospitalization, provide chronic partners (e.g., a partner physician practice)
condition education, and promote self- and the lead time should needs change from
management. Others are designed for health the initiation of the program. Since telehealth
care professionals to connect with more requires broad data sharing, organizations
specialized or experienced clinicians to seek should ensure that such data sharing is done
guidance, advice, or interventions. In addition in compliance with all the applicable Health
it is important to understand the technology Insurance Portability and Accountability
transmission requirements and what Act (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rule
alternatives are available should the technology requirements. Under the new HIPAA
not be able to be utilized in some specific Omnibus Rule, which became effective in
patient environments. March 2013, business associates of covered

• Software Considerations entities (including telehealth vendors) are now
Software considerations should not only directly liable for compliance with certain
of the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules’
include the user’s experience but also the requirements. These measures include “a
operational efficiency it may provide. Different mechanism to authenticate,” “a mechanism
telehealth software products will actually allow to encrypt and decrypt electronic protected
organizations to manage many more patients health information (EPHI),” and “policies and
because of operational efficiencies built into

Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring for Long-Term and Post-Acute Care:
A Primer and Provider Selection Guide 2013