In May 2023, the Office of Connected Care, VA Remote Patient Monitoring – Home Telehealth program received the 2023 FORUM Health IT Innovation Award, which honors programs that drive innovation and results in the federal health technology and consulting community. Indeed, the program is growing and driving compelling results, such as reducing hospital admissions and bed stays for our nation’s veterans.
This article explores the VA’s connected care initiatives, how they leverage remote health technologies, and real-world examples of the program’s life-saving impact.
About VA Remote Patient Monitoring and Telehealth
In 2003, the Veterans Administration (VA) introduced a telehealth program to enable better patient and provider communication and monitoring between healthcare visits. Nineteen years later, in 2022, the VA used telehealth and remote patient monitoring (RPM) for over 11 million episodes of care for 2.3 million Veterans.
Telemedicine, telehealth, and remote patient monitoring are digital health technologies used to monitor and track patients’ health status from their homes. With digital health, care providers can monitor patients remotely through digital platforms. Options include live phone or video consultations, secure messaging, email communication, and RPM platforms. Qualified healthcare professionals collect vital health data with remote patient monitoring with connected health devices. Some commonly used RPM devices are:
- blood pressure monitors
- remote blood glucose monitors
- digital thermometers
- weight scales,
- rpm peak flow meters
- rpm pulse oximeters
VA Remote Patient Monitoring Usage Statistics
The Office of Connected Care, Remote Patient Monitoring – Home Telehealth (RPM-HT) reports that in 2022, 132,000 veterans utilized VA remote patient monitoring and telehealth services, with 20,000 additional enrollments occurring yearly. Moreover, patients enrolled in VA remote patient monitoring and telehealth services have a 41% reduction in hospital admissions and a 70% reduction in bed days of care.
According to Kenneth Horseman, lead care coordinator at the VA’s Connected Care, RPM-HT office, patients not enrolled in RPM-HT stay in the hospital longer because their symptoms are not caught early. He also highlights that the VA remote patient monitoring and telehealth program has saved lives on many occasions.
On one occasion during a video visit, Horseman had noticed that a patient was having trouble speaking and looked pale. Horseman told him to seek emergency care right away. The next day, the veteran was still in the ICU but in much better condition thanks to Horseman’s quick action. You can read more on this story at VA News.
This example illustrates the value of the VA connected care program in intervening early when veterans’ health deteriorates at home. This video below offers more insights into the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Remote Patient Monitoring – Home Telehealth (RPM – HT) program.
Trends and Length of Enrollment in VA Telehealth
Recent research describes trends in use and length of enrollment in the VA remote patient monitoring and telehealth program, showing that between 2010 and 2017, 400,000 veterans used telehealth services for chronic disease management. Over half remained in the program for over 8 months. From March 2020 to May 2021, 23,500 veterans used remote patient monitoring for COVID-19.
In December 2020 and January 2021 alone, clinicians monitored more than 2,000 veterans daily. Despite the rapid increase in RPM, patient satisfaction still remained consistently high at around 90% in various areas. Moreover, only 4% of veterans on COVID-19 monitoring were admitted to VA facilities, indicating that RPM helped Veterans recover at home.
Improved Care Access with VA Remote Patient Monitoring
Today, the VA offers healthcare to over 3 million rural veterans. One main advantage of VA remote patient monitoring is the increased accessibility it provides to veterans. This is especially beneficial for those residing in rural or remote areas.
Distance and transportation challenges often hinder timely access to healthcare services. That can lead to delayed diagnoses and treatments. By leveraging RPM, veterans receive continuous monitoring and expert care regardless of geographical location.
One VA remote patient monitoring study compared healthcare utilization, treatment, and mortality rates between rural and urban patients with chronic heart failure. Rural patients used VHA facilities for primary care and telemedicine at similar or higher rates but had lower and decreasing inpatient and urgent care utilization rates over time.
In chronic and non-chronic heart failure cases, treatment receipt and mortality rates were similar between rural and urban patients. These findings suggest that the VHA helped reduce access and health outcome disparities in rural telehealth patients with congestive heart failure.
Improved Chronic Disease Management
Chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, are prevalent among America’s veterans. VA remote patient monitoring plays a crucial role in managing chronic conditions effectively. Regular monitoring and timely intervention can prevent complications and hospitalizations, ultimately improving veterans’ quality of life. By tracking health vital signs proactively, qualified healthcare professionals can identify early warning signs and intervene promptly. As a result, better health outcomes are achieved, and healthcare costs are reduced.
Improved Surgical Care
In addition to chronic disease management, VA remote patient monitoring has shown promising surgical care results. One research study focused on 28 high-risk senior patients residing an average distance of 324.5 miles from a bariatric surgical center. These patients underwent gastric bypass surgery, and 82% of the patients utilized televisits for the initial surgical consultation.
The study revealed excellent patient satisfaction, with significant travel distance and time savings. Veterans saved approximately 19,000 miles and 69 travel days with televisits. Furthermore, surgical outcomes were equivalent, and follow-up rates were 96.6% compared to non-Veterans Affairs patients.
Enhanced Medication Adherence
Medication non-adherence is common among patients, often resulting in poor health outcomes. 80% or more adherence rates are generally needed for optimal therapeutic efficacy. However, it is estimated that adherence to chronic medications is roughly 50%.
VA remote patient monitoring and VA virtual care helps address medication adherence by providing reminders and notifications for medication intake. Healthcare providers can remotely monitor patients’ adherence to prescribed medications, allowing timely interventions and adjustments. Remote monitoring engagement technologies include smart pill dispensers and apps that monitor and confirm dosing.
Promoting Quality of Life
Emphasizing patient self-care and interventions that enhance the quality of life can aid in reducing suffering from physical and psychological symptoms associated with incurable conditions. A recent study compared telehealth visits to traditional in-person care for diabetic adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in a rural setting. The study found telehealth was as effective as in-person visits in maintaining metabolic control for individuals with T1D.
Additionally, participants in the telehealth group experienced improved glucose management and reduced time above the desired range. Moreover, they reported enhanced quality of life, as measured by the Diabetes Quality of Life questionnaire (EsDQoL). This study highlights the comprehensive benefits of telehealth in diabetes care.
The Future of VA Remote Patient Monitoring and Telehealth
VA remote patient monitoring is improving healthcare delivery for our nation’s heroes with increased access to healthcare, improved chronic disease management and medication adherence, and support for mental health. The VA’s commitment to advancing their healthcare systems is ensuring veterans receive the care and support they deserve, irrespective of location. Integrating remote health technology holds immense potential in developing a more inclusive and patient-centric healthcare system for veterans. To learn more or talk with your VA provider to see if the program is right for you, visit https://telehealth.va.gov/type/home.
Tenovi works exclusively with chronic care, telehealth, and RPM software and services companies that would like to offer remote patient monitoring solutions to healthcare providers. Visit tenovi.com to learn more about our no sync, no app RPM hardware and software services.
