In fiscal year 2013, 608,900 patients in Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and community-based outpatient clinics received care through VA telehealth services, equaling a total of approximately 1,790,000 telehealth episodes of care, according to a Telehealth Services in the United States Department of Veterans Affairs report.
Overall, outcomes for patients receiving telehealth services were positive. Here are seven statistics on telehealth services outcomes in the VA.
1. Home telehealth1 reduced bed days of care by 59 percent.
2. Home telehealth reduced hospital admissions by 35 percent.
3. Clinical video telehealth2 reduced bed cays of care by 38 percent for mental health care.
4. The average patient satisfaction score regarding home telehealth was 84 percent.
5. The average patient satisfaction score regarding store-and-forward telehealth3 was 95 percent.
6. The average patient satisfaction score regarding clinical video telehealth was 94 percent.
7. Home telehealth saved $1,999 per year per patient.
1Home telehealth provides care for patients with chronic conditions in their homes in-home and mobile technologies to manage said conditions.
2Clinical video telehealth services are real-time consultations over secure video networks.
3Store-and-forward telehealth services sends clinical images to remote clinicians for review.
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