High Utilizers of Healthcare

High utilizers of healthcare are a small percentage of individuals who account for most of healthcare spending in the United States. Research has shown this as a steady trend over the years, and the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality reports that 5% of the population accounts for 49% of total healthcare expenses[1]. A report by the Government Accountability Office found that 5% of Medicaid enrollees made up 48% of costs, and a mere 1% of enrollees accounted for 25% of the costs[2]. These figures identify a strong incentive for managed care health plans to develop comprehensive programs around supporting these members and ensuring that they are receiving the right care at the right time, as well as receiving the resources to properly manage their conditions.

While the benefits of telehealth are well documented, best practices for telehealth have yet to be formally established. Telehealth users are often searching for best practices that will allow them to use telehealth to its fullest potential.

Today, we have a great story from Michelle Koeman, RN, who has been a staff nurse at Holland Hospital Home Health for 12 years. Most recently, she transitioned to using telehealth to care for home health patients. She shared with us a story about one of her patients, Susan*, whose life was saved using remote patient monitoring a week after hospital discharge.

Araelle Jenison is an EMT and the Manager and Telehealth Coordinator for the Mobile Health Care System Community Check Program for Adirondack Health. The program is designed to complement home health care. Patients placed on the program can benefit from the immediate intervention of paramedics. In her own words Jenison writes about the program and how it has been implemented in the Southern Washington County and Northern Rensselaer County.

While the use of telehealth is commonly associated with providing support and symptom management to patients with chronic conditions, many of the same benefits of vitals monitoring, symptom evaluation, and on-call support can be applied to the postpartum population.

I chatted with Christina Lee, RN, Beyond Home Manager/Population Health at Well Care Health based in North Carolina, about the ways in which she inspires clinicians to become advocates for telehealth.  Well Care Health’s clinical professionals are consistently challenging themselves to promote and improve telehealth utilization.

Essex County Health Department Partners with Innovative Telehealth Company, Health Recovery Solutions, to improve patient outcomes and reduce hospital readmissions

As the prevalence of chronic diseases continues to rise, healthcare systems will experience added pressure to make efficient use of their resources and treat more patients without compromising quality of care. Telehealth offers a solution to the growing need for healthcare efficiency in primary care settings today.

Visiting Nurse Association of Omaha partnered with innovative technology company, Health Recovery Solutions (HRS), to support its community efforts in providing peace of mind, quality care, and independence to patients.

Omaha, NE -- Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) is now partnering with Health Recovery Solutions (HRS), an innovative telehealth software company, to enhance client care. With over 15 years of telehealth experience, VNA chose HRS’ telehealth software solution because of its unique ability to engage clients in their home care.

Patients with kidney disease have tremendous benefits from the use of telehealth by providing self management tools and a communication platform between patients and clinicians. Read the article below as it discusses how telehealth can be adopted for this patient population.