BRIDGID NOREEN FIFE MEMORIAL LUNCHEON

The VNA of LI's Bridgid Noreen Fife Memorial Luncheon supports our community’s under-served maternal child population while helping to bring about educational awareness for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) prevention and education. To learn more about this event, please contact Sue Fragale at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (516) 889-1234.

The New York Community Bank Foundation is helping to shape the future of the VNA of LI through its ongoing support and commitment to our organization. The Foundation's support of the VNA of LI's Telehealth Monitoring Services, assists the VNA of LI in focusing on health promotion, disease prevention, diagnosis, consultation, education and therapy. By monitoring a client's condition through this vital service, it successfully brings about measurable and sustainable improvements in client safety, costs and overall quality of care.

THE UNITED WAY SUPPORTS THE VNA OF LI

The Visiting Nurse Association of Long Island receives financial support from the United Way of Long Island. The United Way of Long Island, together with community partners, is committed to changing lives on Long Island by investing in improving access to health care, supporting children and youth, reducing hunger and assisting neighbors in need.

This support allows the VNA of LI to continue its important work of providing critically needed home health and community based services that enhance quality of life for clients and their families.  We are extremely grateful for the United Way's commitment to supporting programs and services that are vital to the sustained health and well being of Long Islanders.

IN HOME TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES OUTCOMES AND QUALITY OF LIFE

FOR PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC DISEASE

Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), Diabetes, and wounds are often treated and stabilized in a hospital setting then discharged to continue care at home under the supervision of a Certified Home Health Care Agency. Many high risk patients can now be monitored at home through a Telehealth Monitoring System. The system enables early detection of irregularities in vital signs, helps to identify complications through a series of pre-programmed questions and monitors medication compliance. With this data, early intervention is possible resulting in fewer emergency room visits and hospitalizations.

In a widely cited study by Meyer, Kobb and Ryan, the combination of home Telehealth and coordinated care resulted in substantial improvements in health outcomes among a group of elderly veterans with a variety of chronic diseases. Outcomes included a 40% reduction in emergency room visits, 63% reduction in hospital admissions and a 60% reduction in hospital bed days of care, along with similar reductions in nursing home care.  These outcomes deliver significant savings to the health care system, particularly for treating chronic illnesses that account for roughly 80% of increases in Medicare costs. 

How Does Telehealth Monitoring Work?

An easy to use device is installed in the patient's home with education and training provided to the patient and/or their caregivers on the proper use of the equipment. Vital signs and response data is transmitted at scheduled intervals via the patient’s standard telephone line. Through the home health care agency’s Central Monitoring Station, a Central Station Nurse reviews the data with an eye toward Red Alerts. Red Alerts are any readings that fall outside of the physician established parameters. Although data is collected and transmitted at scheduled intervals, patient’s not feeling well can transmit their data at any time for review.  If no data is received by the patient at the scheduled interval, the agency’s Central Station Nurse will follow-up accordingly. Physicians are always advised, both verbally and by written report, regarding the status of their patients.

Summary

Telehealth Monitoring improves patient outcomes and their quality of life by enabling early intervention and treatment through frequent monitoring of vital signs, responses to questions and medication compliance, if needed. By tracking patterns and monitoring vital signs at specific intervals, emergency room visits and hospitalizations can be reduced.

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MEDICATION COMPLIANCE:

ARE PATIENTS FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS?

Advances in the pharmaceutical industry over the past several decades, have lead to thousands of new medications that allow physicians to treat and prevent disease. Many conditions that not so long ago were fatal are now managed effectively and safely.

But, there is one challenge that remains -- patient compliance with dosing schedules. According to the National Council for Patient Information and Education, it has been reported that 1.6 billion prescriptions are written every year in the United States with up to 40% of older Americans skipping doses or not taking their medications at all.  That statistic can translate to an increased number of emergency room visits and hospital stays, and more health care dollars being spent on treating a preventable event.

For patients with faulty memories or other issues that may interfere with dosing schedules, there are in home devices that can help to ensure medication compliance.

Telehealth Monitoring is an easy-to-use in home health status monitoring system that reduces ER visits and hospital admissions.  In addition to that technology, there is a peripheral device that can be added to the Telehealth Monitoring system known as MedPartner™ Medication Reminder.

MedPartner™ reminds the patient through voice commands and light cues when it is time to take their medication including the dose and which medication container to use.  Patients are also alerted when they are taking medication from the wrong container.  A daily record is then sent to the home care agency for clinical review.  Any missed doses are then followed-up with the patient and the physician is alerted.

Summary

Using an electronic medication reminder system to ensure that prescribed medications are taken when required will result in a higher quality of life for patients and a reduction in emergency visits and hospitals stays.  If this can be achieved, there will be more health care dollars available to treat other medical illnesses.