Just as technology must evolve to meet consumer needs, telemedicine
has reached a pivotal point in its development that finally makes it a
realistic option for senior living providers. Telemedicine talk and
try-outs have long been part of resident care discussions, but only now
can the technology really start making good on its promise of providing
effective virtual care-bringing physicians and residents together,
despite the miles between them.
It's
welcome news for senior living companies seeking innovative ways to
enhance the resident experience by making medical care accessible in
ways that are both convenient and cost effective. Plus, as acuity
continues to rise, the need for quick and easy access to physicians and
specialists grows for residents-and being able to meet that need also
makes a community more competitive.
Exploring Care Options
The
term telemedicine could encompass a variety of technologies, including
wireless in-room monitoring systems for residents and some
emergency-call systems. But on the cutting edge of those technologies is
telemedicine in its truest sense-the use of audio, video, and other
means to capture vital signs, transmit data between multiple locations,
and facilitate virtual visits with physicians. Most technologies
specific to telemedicine "seek to replicate remotely what happens in a
clinical setting, a doctor's visit, or a nurse's visit," says David
Stern, chief professional officer of Living Independently Group, a
telemedicine technology supplier based in New York City.
Traditionally,
if a resident needs to see a physician, a family member must provide
transportation and assistance or arrange for the resident's community to
do so. Either option can be a logistics challenge, an additional
expense, and a stressful situation for the resident.
"It makes
logical sense to explore the role [telemedicine technology] could have
in assisted living, and in senior housing in general," says Elizabeth
Wheatley, corporate director of clinical operations for Newton,
Massachusetts-based Five Star Senior Living. In addition to enhancing
resident care, Wheatley also sees the long-term business benefits. "The
bottom line is we want to help our residents stay as healthy as possible
so they can stay with us. So I think this will help us with resident
retention in the long run." Ideally, Wheatley envisions a telemedicine
system that combines video communications and clinical data. "It could
allow more frequent communication between the resident, the community,
and the provider. That means you might be able to identify subtle
changes in their condition a little early on," she says. Researchers at
the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock have shown
that such a system is possible. They have been working with a local
assisted living community to demonstrate a telemedicine system that
incorporates a desktop audio-visual system and a hand-held camera for
diagnostics. Researchers report the ability to deliver a variety of
primary care services remotely that will reduce the need for in-person
visits.
Testing the Technology
Since telemedicine
technology began rolling out in recent years, senior living executives
have been watchful of its business benefits. More than this, though,
they're intrigued by the potential boon to overall resident wellness.
"The
idea that we can do some minor diagnosing through a [virtual
consultation] versus sending someone to the ER just to get diagnosed for
a urinary tract infection-that's what interests me," says Bettina
Suarez-Roskosh, national director of clinical services for McLean,
Virginia-based Sunrise Senior Living.
At The Arbor Company, based
in Atlanta, Vice President of Quality Mary Campbell Jenkins points to a
variety of in-room and kiosk-based technologies that allow residents to
self-collect data and report various vital measurements such as weight,
blood pressure, and even blood sugar levels. The information is recorded
for caregivers and sent electronically to physicians.
This type
of telemedicine technology in some ways "enforces a discipline about
collecting that information," Campbell Jenkins says. "It heightens
awareness and, from a corporate perspective, it allows for a greater
degree of oversight."
On the other hand, implementing telemedicine
technology isn't as simple as buying a new gadget and using it. As with
any technology purchase, the consumer assumes risks-and in the case of
telemedicine kiosks, an unforeseen circumstance forced The Arbor Company
to discontinue the use of such a kiosk at its community in Decatur,
Georgia.
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