According to the American Telemedicine Association, telemedicine is “the use of medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communications to improve a patient’s clinical health status.” Essentially, it allows medical professionals to provide interactive healthcare to patients by using modern technology and telecommunications. This technology lets patients visit with their physicians live over video for immediate care. As the use of this new technology continues to grow, telemedicine has expanded into a variety of uses.
A recent study, published in the journal Telemedicine and e-Health, examined the use of telemedicine in senior living communities across the United States. It found that more senior residents used telehealth platforms to interact with their physicians in care communities where technology, literacy, and engagement were higher. Most notably, the researchers ascertained that those seniors who engaged more frequently with health technology reported fewer incidences of emergencies that required hospitalization. In addition to reducing unnecessary hospital trips, this unique healthcare tool provides other invaluable benefits to many residents of senior living communities.
Provides Person-Centered Care
Telemedicine allows senior living communities to provide more person-centered care by facilitating coordination between the resident, their family, caregivers, and providers. This technology often monitors key health indicators, such as weight, blood pressure, physical activity, and medication management, without forcing the resident to leave their community. Since many geriatric issues often involve multiple specialists, telemedicine allows several providers to collaborate on a single case. This means that the patient does not have to commit to several appointments for a diagnosis, cutting down on commutes and wait times.
Fights Depression
According to research published in The Lancet Psychiatry, this technology is also a useful tool for older patients who suffer from depression. The study provided an integrated telehealth service to those suffering from chronic depression. It found that compared with usual care alone, participants reported improvements in anxiety, better access to support and advice, greater satisfaction with the support they received, and improvements in self-management and health literacy. Another study by the same journal discovered that telemedicine was also especially helpful to senior veterans since they are often not able to receive in-person care due to geographic isolation, stigma, and mobility issues.
Reduces Readmissions and Hospital Stays
Long-Term Living Magazine estimates that around 25 percent of annual hospital admissions for senior living residents can be prevented through telemedicine technology. Those who are discharged after a surgery or other medical procedure can receive the same medical consultations via video conference within their communities as they could in person.
Remote monitoring is the primary way that telemedicine is used to reduce hospital readmissions. Hospitals provide patients with computers, video conferencing equipment, and portable monitors that can track vital signs such as blood pressure and blood oxygen levels. Patients hold real-time video calls with nurses, fill out online questionnaires designed to assess their condition, receive education via interactive programs, and send their vitals wirelessly to their health care provider. These efforts help prevent complications that often land patients back in the hospital.
Increases Accessibility
Due to the prevalence of chronic health conditions among the elderly population, senior residents often require more healthcare than other individuals. Many of these seniors may be unable to leave their residence due to illness or injury, or transportation to a care facility might not be readily available. Telemedicine removes the walls between the health care provider and the patient, allowing care to be available anywhere at any time. Senior communities who provide telemedicine technologies ensure that their residents have access to healthcare, no matter their condition.
Telemedicine is a valuable tool for health care providers that allows them to extend their reach to patients and improve their quality of follow-up care. With this technology, residents of senior living communities don’t have to be removed from their familiar environment for a medical check-up or outpatient care that can easily be done using telemedicine encounter management software and real-time medical devices.