The Carolinas Healthcare System, a network that includes 23 hospitals throughout North and South Carolina, is rolling out technology to support its new telemonitoring program.
The program is designed to improve patient outcomes and save money by reducing re-hospitalizations and decreasing the number of days in the hospital.
Carolinas Healthcare selected Honeywell's HomMed LifeStream Remote Patient Care System and purchased 360 Genesis DM Telehealth Monitors for the program, which will operate in six counties.
The Genesis DM is designed to integrate with the Web-based LifeStream system and contains remote biometric and symptom evaluation. The patient care system provides a telehealth platform that integrates patient-facing devices, software applications, disease management content and related services to boost patient care and improve financial outcomes.
Most patients in the monitoring program suffer from chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure, hypertension and diabetes. These patients are set up with an in-home Genesis DM Telehealth Monitor, which measures information such as weight, blood pressure and any daily change in health conditions. The information is transferred securely from the home monitor to the patient's healthcare provider for analysis and identification of potential problems.
"Our new telehealth monitoring program will improve readmission rates, reduce the number of visits per episode and increase efficiency across our expanding network geography," said Connie Bonebrake, vice president for post-acute care services at Carolinas HealthCare. "Having all the agencies of Carolinas HealthCare System using the same Honeywell system will allow us to share our expertise and experiences, compare results and leverage the successes of the program throughout the region."
"In a pilot program, a patient who was regularly admitted to the hospital experienced no additional readmissions after one year on the monitor," said Marla Nutting, administrator for Blue Ridge Home HealthCare in the Carolinas HealthCare System.
The technology enables better outcomes for patients through regular monitoring and preventive intervention, said Terry Duesterhoeft, vice president of sales and marketing for Honeywell HomMed.
The program will be employed by several North Carolina hospitals with home care services including Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, Carolinas Medical Center-Lincoln in Lincolnton, Carolinas Medical Center-Union in Monroe, Cleveland Regional Medical Center in Shelby, Wilkes Regional Medical Center in North Wilkesboro and Blue Ridge HealthCare System in Valdese.
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