Outcomes of an integrated telehealth network demonstration project

An integrated telehealth network that linked three hospitals, a federally qualified health care clinic with six sites, a county dental clinic, and patient homes was developed and implemented using both private and federal funding. The goal of the network was to deliver 10 different medical, dental, and behavioral health services to a rural community. The network served patients from nine different counties and two states. Outcomes from the disease management programs for congestive heart failure and diabetes, as well as crisis telehealth and teledental health, were reported. Results for the diabetes disease management program increased the number of diabetics who brought their blood sugar under control. Additionally, based on hospital days per patient per year with and without intervention, and the cost of intervention by telehealth, it was projected that the national cost of care for CHF hospitalizations could be reduced from 8 billion dollars to 4.2 billion dollars. This telehealth network can serve as a model for integrating health services in each county of the state. Once each county had an integrated telehealth network, the county networks could be linked to provide regional services and coordination on a statewide basis.