Keeping or improving physical health is challenging when our mental well-being is at risk. Loneliness affects the mind and often manifests in physical ways, such as insomnia, stomach pain, or headaches, or it can worsen existing chronic conditions.
Moreover, social seclusion can result in higher mortality rates, depression, and cognitive impairment. Loneliness is a common problem among adults; luckily, telemedicine has been recognized as a method to alleviate this problem and prevent its adverse impacts on patients’ health. Given the inadequate number of healthcare providers available for an elderly group that continues to grow, telehealth can also be a creative approach to managing resources while delivering top-notch care.
In addition to exacerbating conditions, social isolation can also increase medical spending. CMS spent an average of $1,608 more per year for older Medicare beneficiaries with limited social connections than those who were more socially active.
Socially isolated individuals were also 29 percent more likely to enter a skilled nursing facility, and their average monthly costs were $75 more than their non-socially isolated counterparts.
If not handled properly, these alarming statistics could seriously affect value-based care. Telehealth can help.
Researchers at the University of San Diego found that telehealth improves the lives of socially isolated individuals. The study observed a sample of adults who had previously demonstrated poor levels of interaction with others. They were given tablets for using telehealth and encouraged to contact family and friends with the pills.
The project manager’s weekly telehealth visits ranged from five to 15 minutes. Initially given a chance to talk about their baseline health, often these conversations shifted to lighter topics such as daily life. For some of these patients, the project manager was their primary source of social interaction for the week. This study cites another test model in which researchers noted an increase in false alarms, tracing back to a need for connection.
Telehealth Reduces Loneliness
According to the University of San Diego study feelings of loneliness had decreased by 60%, and depression had reduced by 80%. Also, patients’ primary care visits, hospital visits, and hospital readmissions decrease. A win-win situation!
Telehealth fosters connection, an essential aspect of any successful and effective care plan, as illustrated in this case study.
Implementing Telehealth for Social Isolation
If your organization wants to integrate telehealth into a social isolation program, this example is a great model to follow. In a similar vein, remote patient monitoring (RPM) can be a great way to provide physical and social benefits to patients while getting reimbursed through the required 20 minutes of patient engagement each month.
Health coaches, such as nurses and medical assistants, are often used in RPM programs providing an invaluable care service. As providers typically have limited time availability, health coaches provide a crucial gap in care. They continuously monitor readings and regularly engage with patients to facilitate behavior change. Such dialogue allows for meaningful conversations where patients can actively contribute to their care plan.
Furthermore, these relationships provide education regarding the patient’s social life, which proves beneficial for creating a culturally-sensitive treatment strategy and produces positive outcomes for both physical and mental health. Doing so allows a smooth transition through the continuum of care by providing necessary access to resources to benefit the patient’s situation holistically.
The readings collected through RPM are a great indicator of whether the program is working. Stable readings indicate that physical conditions aren’t exacerbating due to mental health issues. If patients feel their loneliness is affecting their health somehow, they can also communicate it to health coaches.
Ascent Care Partners handles all the details for implementing and operating an effective RPM program. Each RPM device is designed and implemented with the patient’s needs in mind. Data automatically transfers to our secure, HIPAA-compliant platform. This platform links everyone on the care team—patients, providers at your organization, and our virtual health coaches.
The RPM aims to simplify workflow and promote transparency, giving every care team member access to the patient’s data through the portal. On top of that, a telehealth portal is also accessible by providing messaging, video, and audio capacities when patients need to reach their providers or health coaches. We believe no one should feel as though they are alone, and we strive to make sure seniors know they can count on us for meaningful care.
