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| Intel and GE Care Innovations are working together to pilot a remote monitoring telehealth system.--Courtesy of Intel |
A pilot program to remotely monitor blood pressure and weight for congestive heart failure (CHF) patients is being expanded. The program shows how patients and healthcare providers can work together via technology to reduce hospital readmission.
The program is through health plan Cigna-Healthspring in partnership with Intel-GE Care Innovations, a 50-50 joint venture started in 2010 between Intel and GE Healthcare ($GE) designed to connect healthcare for chronic disease management to the home. In May, the JV partnered with iHealth to integrate the company's connected medical devices into the Intel-GE remote care program. iHealth has connected products including blood pressure monitors, weight and body analysis scales, smart blood glucose monitors and pulse oximeters.
The initial pilot was of 50 CHF patients in Middle Tennessee and was successful in reducing hospital readmission rates. The expanded program will now cover 250 patients statewide, with the possibility of further expansion.
Through the program, CHF patients are given a blood pressure cuff and scale that connect to an interactive tablet. Patients are to use these daily for at least 90 days to interact with a Cigna-HealthSpring nurse practitioner, track their biometric data and complete an educational program at home.
If they achieve certain milestones, the patients are transitioned to a less intensive program in which they continue to monitor these vitals with the aid of a case manager. The program is designed to help patients recognize when their CHF symptoms are exacerbated and to understand the role of diet and medication on their disease.
To participate, patients must have had a CHF diagnosis and a previous emergency room visit or hospital admission. Participation is free to the patient but does require a landline or Internet connectivity.
"We have seen dramatic reductions in the need for hospitalization in our first year of the program pilot with Cigna-HealthSpring. We also recently worked with many hospitals across the country to create successful remote care management programs and have seen as high as a 75% reduction in hospital readmissions," Sean Slovenski, CEO of Intel-GE Care Innovations, said in a statement.
"By monitoring and engaging CHF patients as they go about their daily lives, we are able to catch problems early, involve the doctor immediately and ultimately avoid unnecessary ER visits, hospital stays and worsening of the patients' health," he added.
About 5.1 million U.S. patients have CHF, which can often require hospital readmission due to patient confusion and lack of information about their condition and medications.
"What makes this program so special is that customers know they have easy and direct access to a Cigna-HealthSpring nurse practitioner," Dr. Jim Lancaster, senior medical director for Cigna-HealthSpring of Tennessee, said in a statement. "They feel empowered to learn how they can impact their own health."
- here is the release