Dive Brief:
- Geisinger Health Plan has released results of a recent program that looked at how telemonitoring can affect patients with heart failure. Researchers studied 541 patients between 2008 and 2012 and found those participating had a 23% lower risk of hospital readmission in any given month than those not using telemonitoring. The 30-day risk of readmission was 44% lower; the 90-day risk of readmission was 38%.
- Healthcare costs were also reduced. Researchers found a savings of $3.30 for every dollar invested in the efforts. Patients in the survey saved the health plan about $216 per patient each month, or 11% of traditional costs.
- Participants were given interactive scales that provided physicians with information on patient weight changes over time. Patients were also able to respond to questions about their symptoms including swelling, medication management and shortness of breath. Case managers were assigned to follow up with patients whenever readings or responses fell outside of normal ranges. The full study will be published in December in Population Health Management.
Dive Insight:
Industry experts are forecasting that that number of employers expected to offer telemedicine is gradually rising. Towers Watson found that 37% of employers plan to offer telemedicine as a low-cost alternative to emergency room visits for nonemergent problems by 2015. Another one-third of employers plan to offer the service over the next couple of years, the survey found.
Other surveys have also forecast the growth of telemedicine in the workplace. In August, Towers Watson reported the number of employers planning to provide telemedicine as an option would rise 68% by 2015. More than 20% of larger employers already offer the service in an effort to avoid primary care visits and costly emergency room care. The survey found that even more providers, 34%, plan to offer telemedicine before 2017.
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