The rapid challenge of a telemonitoring program in which healthcare providers conducted daily telemedicine monitoring of COVID-19 patients faced a unique challenge. How these were resolved, and early results are reported in the peer-reviewed journal Telemedicine and eHealth.
“The Kaiser Permanente Virtual Home Care (VHCP) program was able to quickly establish a telemedicine-based program for the management of advanced COVID-19 patients in the DC and Baltimore DC regions. Preliminary data suggest that such a program could be effective in keeping patients out of the hospital and / or emergency room, “said James Shaw, MD, Med-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, and coauthors.
The researchers outlined three main challenges. Constant flow of providers in and out of the program. Challenges in the management of patients with Spanish and the need for interpreters. The initial lack of an alarm system in the pulse oximetry program to warn patients and providers when a patient recorded a low oxygen reading.
The COVID-19 pandemic has allowed telemedicine and telehealth to grow exponentially. Kaiser’s work in the DC Metro area is a testament to providers developing and implementing new approaches in fast fashion to increase healthcare delivery. “
Charles R. Doarn, MBA, Managing Editor of the Journal and Research Professor and Master of Public Health Program Director, Department of Environmental Sciences and Public Health, University of Cincinnati, Ohio
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Magazine Reference:
Shaw, JG, et al. (2021) Large Scale Integrated Telemonitoring Program for COVID-19. Telemedicine and eHealth. doi.org/10.1089/tmj.2020.0384.