CAST’s Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) tool was first introduced in 2013. It is designed to help long-term and post-acute care (LTPAC) provider organizations identify and select the telehealth system that best fits their needs. The tool is updated every year “so it continues to be relevant and useful to LTPAC providers,” says CAST Executive Director Majd Alwan.

About Telehealth

The term “telehealth” covers a wide range of applications. 

• Physician tele-visits are designed to reduce unnecessary hospitalization and hospital readmissions of residents.
• Biometric RPM helps care providers reach and cost-effectively manage large populations of people who have chronic conditions, including older adults living in the community.

“Telehealth is one of the fastest evolving health care technologies that has the potential to greatly improve organizations’ efficiency and quality of care,” said Alwan in a statement. “We are proud to put this free and comprehensive set of resources in the hands of care providers to help them develop innovative care models that take advantage of the capabilities of these technologies.”  

The updated telehealth selection portfolio includes 3 components: selection tools, a whitepaper, and 2 case studies.

Product Selection Tools 

An enhanced Product Selection Matrix and Online Selection Tool compares 19 different products to help providers better understand the functionalities offered by commercially available telehealth/RPM vendors. 

This year, the product selection matrix is also published in Excel format to allow providers to sort and delete products, and perform side-by-side functionality comparisons of only products of interest to them.

Telehealth and RPM Whitepaper and Guide

An updated whitepaper, entitled Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring for Long-Term and Post-Acute Care: A Primer and Provider Selection Guide, is designed to help organizations understand the range of issues surrounding telehealth. The white paper also outlines technology solutions available in the marketplace, as well as their uses and benefits. 

An updated interactive guide helps busy executives quickly get an overview of telehealth, the whitepaper, and planning and selection process.

Case Studies

Two new case studies examine how telehealth protocols improved efficiencies in LTPAC organizations.

• One case study describes how Banner Health monitored 135 clients who had at least 5 chronic health conditions. The project used a range of biometric sensors from LeadingAge Silver Partner and CAST Supporter Philips, and the Philips Lifeline personal emergency response system with automatic fall detection. In addition, program participants were matched with a multidisciplinary care team that included health coaches, nurses, social workers, pharmacists, and primary care “intensivists.” Outcomes included a 27% reduction in cost of care, a 32% reduction in acute and long-term care costs, and a 45% reduction in hospitalizations.
• A second case study details how Camelot Brookside Care Center integrated the CareConnection system from CAST Business Associate Constant Care Technology into its electronic medical record system. The new protocol, which features automated vitals measurement equipment and scales, reduced average hospital readmission rates from 26.3% to 10.4%. A statement from CAST describes this finding as “an astounding reduction in a short timeframe with minimal investment.”

For More Information

For more information or to participate in helping to develop future CAST portfolios, contact Scott Code, CAST associate director, at scode@leadingage.org, 202-508-9466.