New Interview Released: Telehealth From the Patient's Perspective
Springfield, MO (PRWEB) June 02, 2015 -- For Health and Technology Editors: As lawmakers, activists, and presidential candidates debate changes to America's healthcare system, volumes have been written about the use of telehealth as a way to reduce healthcare costs, but very little has been written about how patients view telehealth.
Advanced TeleHealth Solutions recently published this blog interview to shed light on the patient's perspective on telehealth and how it can dramatically impact daily life and overall health for older adults living with chronic disease.
A year and a half ago, 59-year-old Missouri native Vickie Stark was a regular at her local hospital’s emergency room. Living alone and trying to manage a frightening chronic illness on her own frequently left her feeling anxious and scared, and her anxiety would often lead to panic attacks and eventually the ER. But today, it’s a different story.
“Being able to get a hold of someone … and knowing that if anything changes with my vital signs readings it shows up and they [the Advanced TeleHealth Solutions team] will call immediately and make sure everything is OK has been the biggest benefit of using telehealth. This is something that all older Americans need to look out for them,” Stark says.
The change in Stark’s physical and emotional health is all thanks to telehealth. Healthcare news has been touting the benefits that telehealth technology brings to the healthcare industry for a few years now, but something that has been absent from the numerous statistics is the patients’ perspective of how telehealth changes their lives.
For Advanced TeleHealth Solutions’ patient Vickie Stark, telehealth has made her both healthier and more confident. Stark has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and her condition requires daily monitoring and care to ensure that her symptoms stay manageable and do not lead to complications that require hospitalization, and she is hardly alone.
The numbers of people like Vickie with chronic diseases are projected to increase markedly over the next few decades. According to the National Council on Aging, nearly 92% of older adults have at least one chronic condition, and 77% have at least two. Additionally, chronic diseases account for 75% of the money our nation spends on health care.
Doctors have traditionally shouldered much of the blame for what many refer to as a “broken healthcare system,” but now, patients are also being held accountable and asked to take charge of their own healthcare, and telehealth is providing a cost-effective and user-friendly way for them to do just that.
But it’s not just the telehealth devices that patients appreciate; it’s the people behind them. Advanced TeleHealth Solutions’ staff provides a daily connection and means of assistance that many older adults don’t get when dealing with a chronic illness. Stark notes that the Advanced TeleHealth Solutions call center staff is very kind and a pleasure to deal with.
“It’s a one-on-one situation, and I always speak to a person. They are there for you right away, they talk you through everything, and they are all so sweet. It’s a comfort to know that they are watching out for me. It’s like having a whole bunch of friends around all the time.”
About Advanced TeleHealth Solutions:
Advanced TeleHealth Solutions' turnkey scalable remote monitoring system removes traditional barriers to healthcare access – such as geography, mobility, and time constraints – while enabling organizations to take control of the health of their employees, clients, and/or patients.
Founded by Karen Thomas, President of Oxford Healthcare, an affiliate of Cox Health, Advanced TeleHealth Solutions leads the way in providing remote patient monitoring solutions for businesses, hospitals, disease management organizations, and managed care companies – customizing and coordinating the right system for each organization without the cost of creating a new system, adding resources, or having start-up time involved.
For more information, please visit http://www.Advanced-TeleHealth.com.
Amy Selle, Advanced TeleHealth Solutions, https://www.advanced-telehealth.com/, +1 (312) 878-7866, [email protected]
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