Wednesday, May 16, 2007
A Whole New World - Maybe
Yesterday I testified at a Massachusetts legislative hearing in support of Senate Bill 680, which would allow home care agencies to use and get paid for monitoring frail, nursing home at-risk patients via telehealth and video visiting. The value of this technology to help patients living with diseases like congestive heart failure has been demonstrated in any number of studies. But it is hard sometimes for state programs like MassHealth in Massachusetts to embrace new approaches even as they contemplate - and seek permission from the federal government - for a new Community First strategy that attempts to reduce the state's reliance on nursing homes for long term care by expanding community program eligibility and offerings. Hopefully the legislature will prompt them by passing this bill.
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As a nurse who works with elders in their homes, this absolutely would be a great way to keep folks at home longer...I sometimes end up recommending LTC placement for someone who's cardiopulmonary status is not ever stable for long, as elderly partners/adult children, etc. can't act as skilled nurses to assess anytime their family member has trouble breathing or feels 'not quite right.' This would provide an approximation of a home visit by an MD or NP or PA...at least for some elders.
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