Parks Associates produced a white paper "primer" which caught my eye today. It suggests that there is an opportunity presenting itself as a result of the innovations in medical and other technologies in the area of home healthcare. It's an interesting look. I'm sure they won't mind if I offer you just the tip of the iceberg here and then suggest you get the rest on their website (scroll down to "Digital Home Health--A Primer).
Home healthcare enters a new stage in the digital age. Previous care delivery models included paid nurse visits, traditional phone-based telemedicine applications, and assisted living/nursing homecare, each with its own problems. Traditional telemedicine has been marketed as a substitute for the other two models but with mixed results. The models using home visits by registered nurses and nursing homecare have been challenged by factors such as a nationwide shortage of experienced nurses and varying and uncertain reimbursement policies in both private health plans and public sources.
But technological advances are making over the home healthcare industry.
Networking technologies and expanded capabilities in telecom infrastructure support faster, more reliable, and more connected care delivery to the home. The Internet opens a new and more efficient communication channel between patients and clinicians. Digital technology has produced new medical devices such as networked glucose readers, digital thermometers, and stethoscopes as well as innovative applications such as motion sensors and video-conferencing tools. Finally, better, faster computers enable patients to communicate with caregivers, acquire medical knowledge, and share advice with one another.
In our view, the future digital home health model involves improved telemedicine applications, new geriatric care tools, and pervasive e-health services, all integrated with care providers’ informatics infrastructure so that consumers can receive high-quality care at a lower cost. This model elevates consumers to a more visible role, and they will take the initiative to self-monitor their chronic conditions, self-diagnose symptoms, acquire disease information and wellness knowledge, and actively seek caregivers’ assistance in care management and clinical intervention. The home will be as important a healthcare facility as physician offices, clinics, and hospitals.
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