Technology aids VNA in its effort
Published on April 21st, 1999
STONEHAM, MA - When visiting nurse Kathy Seville checks on her patient, Stoneham resident Thomas Palermo, she doesn't always leave her office.
Seville and Palermo are among the select few in the area to work with a new, innovative technology that adds a dimension to the nurse-patient relationship.
It's called Telemedicine and it is literally changing the way that health care providers see their patients.
The Stoneham-based Visiting Nurse Association of Middlesex East and Visiting Nurse Hospice is the first home health care agency in New England to initiate the Telemedicine program.
Through the use of telecommunications and computer technology, Telemedicine allows a health care provider to call up a patient at home and provide routine medical care. A video monitor allows two-way viewing between parties.
The Telemedicine unit is also equipped with a blood pressure cuff and stethoscope for recording vital signs as well as a camera for close-up viewing of wounds or other areas of concern. This, along with the ability to view the patient and recognize discomfort or confusion, provides a nurse with more complete information than a regular phone call would allow.
For the patient, viewing the nurse during their exchange provides a greater sense of comfort and reassurance.
According to VNA Public Relations and Development Manager Jessica Regan, the organization received a $10,000 start-up grant from the Citizens Energy Corporation to get the program off the ground.
Currently, three of the VNA's five units, are being used by patients in its Cardiac Care Program. Patients are selected for the Telemedicine program on a case-by-case basis, providing they meet various criteria, including consideration of medical needs and providing that the patient has someone in the home to assist.
According to Regan, Palermo, who suffers from congestive heart failure, was considered a good candidate for the program since his wife, Marie, was available to assist him. In addition, he was not intimidated by the new equipment and quickly adjusted to it.
"I was happy when Kathy approached me about being one of the first patients to try Telemedicine," Palermo said. "It has worked great so far and it is not difficult... Of course, I like that Kathy still comes to the house for regular visits, but this has worked out fine. I would recommend it to anyone else in my situation."
While Seville's visits to the Palermo home have been cut from three to two, she stated that the program is not intended to replace home visits.
"I think it's been great," Seville said. "It has a purpose and it has a place...It helps to alert us to a patient's progress."
The Telemedicine visits have been provided at no fee to the patient.
Regan stated that Telemedicine has proved to be more economical in comparison to in-home visits.
According to American Telecare, a leader in home Telemedicine technology, studies have illustrated that the program can reduce overall medical costs. One Minneapolis-based HMO found that the addition of home telemonitoring showed a reduction of overall per patient per month costs by 29 percent, while the frequency of patient encounters increased.
In addition, the study indicated that the use of expensive in-patient services declined by 56 percent when a patient used the technology in contrast to a similar time period when that same patient received more traditional health care.
"This program makes sense in the current environment when Medicare reimbursement to home health agencies is being drastically reduced," Seville said. "We hope that word will spread about the success of Telemedicine and that home health agencies will be reimbursed for this service in the near future."
The Beacon Street organization is currently looking for appropriate placement of the remaining two units which, while in the patient's home, remain the property of the VNA.
VNA Executive Director Jacquelyn Galluzzi is pleased with the program's progress thus far and looks forward to expanding it in the future.
"Many patients have a tremendous need for a greater number of home care visits than their private insurance or Medicare will cover. Telemedicine may be the answer that many of these patients are looking for," she said.
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