Homebased Telemedicine Monitoring Today, home healthcare is delivered once an acute situation arises rather than through a proactive model that focuses on disease management. The current reactive model only works if all patients eventually are resolved and if an agency has unlimited human and financial resources. These constraints do not reflect today’s healthcare environment. With so may patients, so few clinicians and such a high occurrence of chronic disease that must be steadily monitored rather than resolved, the reactive model is simply inadequate. Medicare, too, is increasingly showing signs of requiring homecare agencies to adopt a new model of care that embraces the tenants of disease management. Disease management focuses on long-term health management rather than illness resolution. Disease management programs strive to improve the patient’s outcomes and quality of life. Not surprisingly, disease management is most effective for chronic diseases, which do not have a cure. The disease management model helps patients alter behaviors, manage their health and control symptoms by providing patient guidance and education. Successfully managing a chronic disease requires: Open communication between the patient and caregiver Patient participation in his/her own care Vigilance on the part of the clinician Telemedicine helps home healthcare providers meet the requirements for effective disease management program. Change this sentence to:  Today’s technology connects the patient and the homecare provider using a phone, the Internet and/or a home-based telemedicine device and an ordinary phone line. This makes it possible to maintain bi-directional or back and forth contact with the patient, transmit clinical data and monitor every aspect of the patient’s condition and progress on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. This empowers patients and their healthcare providers to be collaborative partners in a safer, more convenient and, ultimately, a more connected system of care.

Telemedicine is defined by the American Telemedicine Association as “use of medical information exchanged from one place to another via electronic communications to improve patients' health status. This includes providing direct consumer outreach and services and use of the Internet and other technologies for teleconsultations, consumer medical education, remote patient monitoring, online medical records, specialist referrals and much more.” Telemedicine is a multi-billion dollar marketplace improving consumer healthcare around the globe.

The American Medical Association has reported that as many as 70% of all doctor visits are for information only or for matters that can be handled over the phone. Data shows that over 36 million Americans have been treated through telemedicine teleconsultations.

HOW TELEMEDICINE IS USED – A PRACTICAL APPLICATION

The cost of health insurance for a family of four is over $1000 per month. For most people, this is unaffordable! Consumers in this country are looking for affordable, convenient, and time effective ways to consult with a doctor and get maintenance medications. In addition, research indicates that the loss of wages, time and productivity from unnecessary Emergency Room (ER) and doctor visits for non-emergencies and simple prescription refills is costing this country hundreds of billions.

Telemedicine was developed to serve a growing number of people in dire need of medical services and medications. Many of these people have long- term health issues, disease management and chronic problems that need ongoing medication and consultation with a doctor.

Telemedicine serves:

• the over 50 million people in the US alone that do not have insurance and are in need of health services and prescription medications but have few choices for preventative and long-term care.
• the millions who may be insured but are afraid or embarrassed to go to the doctor but need to consult with a doctor about their personal, chronic and/or embarrassing condition.
• the millions who may be unable to leave their homes or live in many rural areas and do not have access to adequate, timely health care.
• Those who seek to participate in their healthcare and save time, money and choose a more convenient method of treating their chronic condition, maintenance medication needs and overall wellbeing. By utilizing Telemedicine, customers can obtain affordable, convenient, top quality medical care and prescription refills(when appropriate) without leaving home.