West Virginia University Medicine in Morgantown is preparing to deploy a telehealth pilot program in November that aims to use video conferencing technology to connect nurses with rural patients who have long-term care conditions, WVNews reports.
The program will focus on preventing hospital re-admissions and emergency room visits for patients with heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, chronic lower respiratory disease and stroke.
Thirty rural West Virginia residents who receive health services through Medicaid waiver programs will be enrolled in the program. The individuals likely have medical conditions they need to manage at home, including diabetes, hypertension and obesity.
As part of the program, participants will receive a scale, thermometer and devices to track their glucose levels, blood pressure and blood oxygenation. Data collected from the devices will be transmitted and monitored 24/7 by nurses, who will also complete semi-monthly calls to keep track of patients' pain levels and monitor mental health, according to the report.