We believe that the HELM will provide vital data regarding day-to-day management including medication adherence, fluid and nutrient intake, weight management and other health-related measures such as mood, cognition and physical function.
PHILADELPHIA (PRWEB) March 19, 2019
VNA Philadelphia has achieved a 30-day hospital readmission rate of 8.54% for patients placed on their telehealth program with HRS. The telehealth program at VNA Philadelphia, known as HELM (Health Education and Lifestyle Management), launched only five months ago to improve patient outcomes and reduce readmission rates that contribute to Medicare penalties. The readmission rate for patients participating in the HELM program is 50% lower than the readmission rate of patients not using telehealth at VNA Philadelphia.
Patients placed on the HELM program have also reported high satisfaction with the telehealth software. On a five-question patient satisfaction survey, 81.25% of patients reported that they strongly agreed or agreed that they were satisfied with the telehealth program. Survey questions cover several areas of patient satisfaction, including healthcare support, ease of use, and how likely patients are to recommend the telehealth program.
As a result of the HELM program’s success, VNA Philadelphia has decided to expand their telehealth services to hospice patients. VNA Philadelphia will offer HRS’ tablet only model, PatientConnect Core, to hospice patients in order to enhance the care and communication available to these patients. PatientConnect Core offers all the benefits of the HRS software without the Bluetooth devices. VNA Philadelphia is strategically expanding their program with this model because hospice patients most benefit from the communication and education features available on the tablet. The remaining patient populations participating in the HELM program use HRS Patient Complete, HRS’ original telehealth offering, including a 4G tablet pre-loaded with the HRS software and disease specific Bluetooth devices.
In addition to rolling out a new telehealth program to hospice patients, VNA Philadelphia received a grant from the Independence Foundation to expand their telehealth program to a wider variety of patient populations. Upon program launch, HELM focused on post-surgical cardiac patients and patients with heart failure. The grant they have been awarded allows VNA Philadelphia to expand HELM to more patients, including patients with diabetes, COPD, sepsis, and patients after joint surgery.
VNA Philadelphia also has plans to work with Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) to publish a study that examines the effectiveness of the HELM program in improving outcomes for patients with congestive heart failure. Katherine E. Galluzzi, DO, CMD, FACOFP, Professor and Chair of the Department of Geriatrics at PCOM, states, “PCOM is delighted to partner with VNA of Philadelphia and the Residentialist Group to pilot a study for homebound individuals with CHF. We received IRB approval to compare outcomes between a study group receiving home nursing with a Health Education and Lifestyle Monitor (HELM) in-home device and a control group receiving routine nursing care. We believe that the HELM will provide vital data regarding day-to-day management including medication adherence, fluid and nutrient intake, weight management and other health-related measures such as mood, cognition and physical function.”
Nolan Santosa, Director of Client Success at HRS, adds, “VNA Philadelphia’s HELM program has achieved outstanding results in a short period of time. We are thrilled to play a part in improving their outcomes and we are very much looking forward to expanding their program to more patient populations and playing a role in their future success.”
About VNA Philadelphia
VNA Philadelphia is the oldest and largest non-profit home health and hospice provider in the region, and one of the most innovative in the nation. Founded in 1886, VNA Philadelphia serves more than 8,000 residents of Philadelphia and the surrounding suburbs each year. VNA Philadelphia is Medicare Certified, licensed by the State of Pennsylvania, Accredited by the Community Health Accreditation Program (CHAP). Our mission is to provide comprehensive home health, palliative, and end of life care of the highest quality to all people, regardless of their ability to pay. To find out more about VNA Philadelphia, contact us at 215-473-0772 or visit http://www.vnaphilly.org.
About Health Recovery Solutions (HRS)
Health Recovery Solutions (HRS) supplies leading hospitals and home care agencies with the most advanced remote monitoring platform focused on changing patient behavior to reduce readmissions and improve clinical outcomes. HRS’ disease-specific engagement kits are customized with educational videos, care plans, and medication reminders. The software is integrated with disease specific Bluetooth peripherals to engage patients and encourage patient participation. For clinicians, HRS' software allows for the management of high-risk patients and provides seamless communication with them through video chat, wound imaging, and text messaging. For family members and caregivers, HRS' software gives them the ability to be fully involved in their family member's care and well-being. To learn more about Health Recovery Solutions, visit http://www.healthrecoverysolutions.com or call (347) 699-6477.