Holland Hospital Home Health Telemonitor Initiatives

Abstract

Electronic telemonitoring systems have been used in homecare settings to allow close nursing supervision of patient data and rapid response to changes in patient status while allowing patients to maintain control of their care. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between insurance status and hospital readmission rates for participants within a telehealth initiative research study. Dorthea Orem’s Self-Care Theory suggests self-reliance and responsibility for personal care improves illness prevention and health outcomes. Using Orem’s theory as a guideline, ninety-five participants were included in this retrospective chart review. Participants were selected through a convenience sample from a community hospital home health agency in the Midwest over a three-month period. Of the 95 patients, 21.1% (n=20) were monitored using telehealth. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23. The top three admitting diagnoses for readmitted telehealth patients included: cardiac (73.7%, n=14), pulmonary (42.1%, n= 8), and renal (26.3%, n=5). There was not a significant relationship between insurance status and telehealth monitoring (χ2 = 2.144a, p= 0.709). Some limitations to this study include a small sample size, inclusion of patients readmitted more than once throughout the three-month study period, a lack of accurate census of total telehealth patients, and single site data collection. This research implicates the need for further research in the effectiveness of telehealth and the prevention of hospital readmission. Using telehealth routinely in the home care setting may allow for increased patient autonomy, safety, and overall promotion of health