A home monitoring program for COVID-19 patients at risk of deterioration led to high satisfaction rates, according to a study. Denver Health implemented the program, providing supportive care, monitoring tools, and regular phone communication. Among the surveyed patients, 91% rated the program highly, 90% would recommend it, and 79% felt less need for emergency department visits. However, DME utilization was lower than expected. The program showcased effectiveness in treating COVID-19 patients and emphasized the importance of patient training as technology advances.
Recent research has shown that a home monitoring program for COVID-19 patients at risk of deterioration has resulted in a high satisfaction rate of 91 percent among users.
According to a study published in the American Journal of Accountable Care, COVID-19 patients who were at risk of worsening health conditions greatly benefited from a home monitoring program, which significantly reduced the need for emergency department (ED) visits.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought about increased flexibility in the use of telehealth services. Leveraging this opportunity to alleviate the strain on local hospitals, Denver Health, an integrated safety-net healthcare system based in Colorado, implemented a home monitoring program for COVID-19 patients. While ample research exists on telehealth utilization during the pandemic, data are scarce on patient monitoring programs.
Denver Health, which operates through 9 federally qualified community health and urgent care clinics, aimed to enhance the efficiency of its healthcare system. The home monitoring program offered supportive care and monitoring tools to COVID-19 patients at risk of clinical deterioration. Patients received essential equipment such as blood pressure cuffs, thermometers, and pulse oximeters, classified as durable medical equipment (DME). They also had twice-daily phone communication with nurses and physicians.
Running from April 2020 to November 2020, the program monitored 668 patients, with 155 participating in the study. All patients had suspected COVID-19 diagnoses, and eventually, 63 percent tested positive for the virus.
To gather insights into patient experiences, researchers conducted a cross-sectional telephone survey comprising 20 questions across five domains: perception of this type of care, perception of DME, frequency of program calls, access, and engagement.
Out of 80 survey respondents, 91 percent rated the program a 9 or 10 on a 1-10 scale. Furthermore, 90 percent would recommend this program to others, and 90 percent expressed interest in participating in similar programs for non-COVID-19 issues.
The program significantly reduced the perceived need for ED visits among 79 percent of survey respondents. Additionally, 88.9 percent reported feeling more in control of their medical condition, and 93.8 percent believed they gained a better understanding of their condition.
However, the utilization of DME fell short of expectations. Despite relatively frequent DME training, only about 70 percent of patients reported using these tools. Nevertheless, 91.6 percent of users expressed comfort in handling DME.
Regarding program phone calls, 87.7 percent of participants deemed the frequency appropriate. The monitoring duration was also positively received, with 95.1 percent of respondents providing positive feedback.
Many patients encountered difficulties accessing the electronic health record (EHR) patient portal. Although 85 percent of participants had smartphones and 74 percent had internet access, only 53 percent could view the EHR patient portal.
Researchers noted the effectiveness of this home monitoring program in treating COVID-19 patients, alongside the need to expedite patient training for these resources as technology advances.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, home monitoring tools have been commonly employed in the treatment of this condition.
A study conducted in March 2022 highlighted the success of a remote patient monitoring program in managing COVID-19 patients.
The research involved a review of 1,128 COVID-19 patients enrolled in the home monitoring program. Considering various demographic factors, researchers categorized patients into high- and low-risk groups.
The primary variable examined was the rate of hospitalization among program participants. Although only 6.2 percent required hospitalization and 1.2 percent were admitted to the intensive care unit, hospitalization was more prevalent among high-risk individuals. Nonetheless, the fact that 92 percent of patients did not require hospitalization indicates the program’s efficacy.
