• Hsuch-Fen Chen, M Christine Kalish, and Jose A Pagan.
• Department of Health Management and Policy, University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd EAD 709B, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA. hsueh-fen.chen@unthsc.edu
• Am J Manag Care. 2011 Jun 1; 17 (6 Spec No.): e224-30.

ObjectiveTo examine the effect of an integrated, clinician-focused telehealth monitoring system on the probability of hospitalization within the first 30-day episode of home healthcare.Study DesignRetrospective, nonexperimental design.MethodsThe study sample includes 2009 data from 5873 Medicare beneficiaries receiving home healthcare services through a network of community-based home health agencies operating in Texas and Louisiana. Propensity-score matching was used to control for selection bias. Logistic regression and postestimation parameter simulation were used to assess how the use of an integrated, clinician-focused telehealth monitoring system might affect the probability of hospitalization during the first 30-day episode of home healthcare.ResultsThe 30-day probability of hospitalization for telehealth and non-telehealth patients was 10.3% and 17.1%, respectively. Patients in the telehealth group had a 7-percentage-point (95% confidence interval 4.2, 9.4) lower probability of hospitalization within the first 30-day episode of home healthcare than those in the non-telehealth group.ConclusionThe use of an integrated, clinician focused telehealth monitoring system can substantially reduce the 30-day probability of hospitalization for home healthcare patients. Telehealth monitoring systems that integrate skilled clinicians can lead to substantial hospitalization-related cost savings.

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