Home telemonitoring reduces readmissions by 44% in pilot study

The use of interactive voice recognition (IVR) and other telemonitoring technology has reduced readmissions for Geisinger patients by 44%, according to a press release.

According to the press release, for a two year pilot study, a group of Geisinger heart failure patients were assigned to be in the study group, where they received telemonitoring as part of their follow up care.  Readmission rates were compared between this group and the control group, who did not receive home telemonitoring.

The patients who received the telemonitoring were readmitted to the hospital 44% less than those who received no telemonitoring.  Geisinger has now expanded the use of home telemonitoring to diabetes and hypertension patients.

(Sources: The Advisory Board Daily Briefing, http://advisory.com, March 7, 2012; AMC Health press release, https://amchealth.com/, February 28, 2012)