Telemedicine: extension to home care

Although there are multiple challenges facing the use of telemedicine in home health care, it seems likely that they will be resolved. This analysis projects significant increases in productivity and savings to be realized by implementing a telemedicine system (such as the Tevital Home Care System) compared with traditional home care services. Additional savings are expected as a result of the reduction in the utilization of medical services other than home health care. At the same time, telemedicine offers conceivable benefits such as improved access for consumers, extended coverage capability by home health care agencies, decreased inefficiencies attributable to the complications associated with agency personnel travel, improved agency capacity for preventive care, and, ultimately, heightened consumer satisfaction and both physical and psychological well-being. Taken together, these benefits make adoption of telemedicine technology by home care providers highly desirable.