2003 DEC 15 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Centura Health at Home, a member of Centura Health, is launching a pilot telehealth program for congestive heart failure patients using American TeleCare's products and services.
The telehealth program is designed to reduce hospitalizations and emergency room visits among patients suffering from congestive heart failure. Technology in the patient's home allows a home care nurse to interact with the patient using live two-way video over standard phone lines. Medical devices such as an electronic stethoscope, blood pressure, scale, and pulse oximeter allow the nurse to monitor clinical signs on a daily basis and quickly intervene should the patient's condition deteriorate.
The pilot program is being underwritten by a grant from the Penrose Hospital Foundation and is being conducted in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
'We are very pleased that Centura has selected American TeleCare as their telehealth solutions partner,' stated ATI's CEO, Randall S. Moore, MD, MBA. 'Designing a telehealth program that dramatically improves a patient's health status, while allowing clinical resources to be shared across more patients is redeeming to all involved. The timely interventions, made earlier as a result of remote access, help drive the success of this program.'
'We chose this unit because it allows our nurses to have visual contact with the patients, as well as monitor and transmit clinical data on a daily basis,' said Centura Health at Home senior VP Erin Denholm. 'We believe this visual connection with the patient is a vital part of the home care experience.'
Denholm went on to say, 'Centura treats more than 500,000 individuals every year, many of whom suffer from chronic illnesses. Although we're initially using this technology only for patients with congestive heart failure, we hope to be able to expand it to other diseases such as diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and also use it for wound care. American TeleCare presented us with the best model of combining financial benefits with improved clinical outcomes.'
This article was prepared by Health & Medicine Week editors from staff and other reports.
