Using Telehealth to Avoid Urgent Care and Hospitalization

Telehealth and technology will be necessary for home health agencies to care for the avalanche of patients that will need care at home over the next 10 years. Without these tools, agencies will struggle with meeting the ever-increasing acuity of the patients that we see. The nursing shortage will simultaneously be getting worse as the population of people needing home care rises. Hospitals are already under pressure to control capacity whether through reducing soft admissions or by discharging patients sooner. Telehealth can help agencies change patient behaviors. The immediate feedback that patients receive regarding their health status helps them improve their self-care and make a healthier choice in their lifestyle. This article depicts the success that can be achieved at an agency when telehealth is utilized to improve patient outcomes.