Telehealth’s Impact - White Paper
The Brain processes visual information 60,000 times faster than text.
Collaboration is critical for coordinating patient care and lowering healthcare costs. However
Caregivers, with their constant movement and hectic schedules, struggle with a major problem the inability to spontaneously communicate and collaborate.
A growing number of third-party studies document how telehealth can positively impact the way
healthcare is delivered. From acute care to chronic care for those living with diabetes, congestive heart
failure or hypertension, a wide range of patient populations can benefit from telehealth.
The following information is available at various sites on the Internet and is not exclusive to Astound
Technologies. Documented results using a variety of technologies demonstrate that telehealth is helping
physicians and patients to:
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Once the patient has been evaluated and diagnosed, a neurological consult is often made. The time
from patient arrival to consultation with a neurologist has been found to be variable (10,17,and 18).
Bratina et al showed a mean delay of 123 minutes until neurology evaluation (10). Gomez et al
documented an average delay of 76 minutes (18). There are data to suggest that outcome is improved
when patients are seen early by a neurologist. Davalos et al (17) showed that the relative risk of poor
outcome in patients seen by a neurologist later than 6 hours from symptom onset was 5.6. Prompt
neurological evaluation correlated with shorter patient stays as well.
o
o
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Bratina P, Greenberg L, Pasteur W, et al. Current emergency department management of stroke in Houston,
Texas
William G. Barsan, M.D. (Session Chair) University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor
Improve patient outcomes
o 45% reduction in mortality rates among patients with chronic conditions, such as
diabetes, heart failure and COPD.
 UK Department of Health, Whole System Demonstrator Programme: Headline Findings.
December 2011.
o About 69% of patients who had at least two live, interactive telemedicine
consultations with dermatologists in a year saw clinical improvements.
 “Impact of Live Interactive Teledermatology on Diagnosis, Disease Management, and
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Clinical Outcomes.” Lamel, S MD et al. Arch Dermatol. 2012;148(1):61-65.
Shift appropriate visits away from high-cost settings
o 87% of acute patients would have gone to an urgent care clinic, had an office visit,
or gone to a retail clinic if they hadn’t used telehealth.
 “The Doctor is Now Online.” Muller, S. Employee Benefits Planner. March 2011.
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Reduce cost of managing chronic patient populations
o $1,600 spent per patient/annum for patients using telehealth to support their
chronic conditions, as compared to $13,121 per patient/annum for those using
home-based primary care services, and $77,745 per patient/annum for those using
market nursing home care services.
o “Care Coordination/Home Telehealth: The Systematic Implementation of Health Informatics,
Home Telehealth, and Disease Management to Support the Care of Veteran Patients with Chronic
Conditions.” Darkins, A., M.D. et al. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Care Coordination
Services. Washington, D.C. Vol. 14 No. 10.December 2008.
Reduce unnecessary hospital readmissions
o 51% reduction in number of admissions among angina patients, after three months
of discharge.
 “Telehome Monitoring in Patients with Cardiac Disease Who Are at High Risk of
Readmission.” A. Kirsten Woodend, MD, MSc, PhD, et al. Heart Lung. 2008;37:36–45.
o 19.7% reduction in hospital admissions among Veterans with chronic conditions,
such as diabetes, congestive heart failure and post-traumatic stress disorder.
 “Care Coordination/Home Telehealth: The Systematic Implementation of Health
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Informatics, Home Telehealth, and Disease Management to Support the Care of Veteran
Patients with Chronic Conditions.” Darkins, A., M.D. et al. Department of Veterans
Affairs, Office of Care Coordination Services. Washington, D.C. Vol. 14 No.
10.December 2008.
Lower number of days spent in hospitals
o 61% reduction in number of days spent in the hospital among angina patients, after
three months of discharge.
 “Telehome Monitoring in Patients with Cardiac Disease Who Are at High
Risk of Readmission.” A. Kirsten Woodend, MD, MSc, PhD, et al. Heart
Lung. 2008;37:36–45.
o 25.3% reduction in bed days of care (BDOC) among Veterans with chronic
conditions, such as diabetes, heart failure and post-traumatic stress disorder.
 “Care Coordination/Home Telehealth: The Systematic Implementation of
Health Informatics, Home Telehealth, and Disease Management to Support
the Care of Veteran Patients with Chronic Conditions.” Darkins, A., M.D.
et al. Department of Veterans Affairs, Office of Care Coordination
Services. Washington, D.C. Vol. 14 No. 10.December 2008.
o 14% reduction in bed days among patients with chronic conditions, such as
diabetes heart failure and COPD.
 UK Department of Health, Whole System Demonstrator Programme:
Headline Findings. December 2011.
Improve access to care for remotely-located patients
o 88% of physicians stated telemedicine effective for initial psychiatry consultations
with their child and adolescent patients living in nonmetropolitan communities.
 “Feasibility, Acceptability, and Sustainability of Telepsychiatry for
Children and Adolescents.” Myers, K.M., M.D., M.P.H., Valentine, J.M.,
Ph.D., Melzer,S.M., M.D., M.B.A. Psychiatric Services.
psychiatryonline.org. November 2007. Vol. 58. No. 11.
24 Arbolado Dr, Suite 100  Walnut Creek, CA 94598  Tel: (925) 465-5074  Fax: (925) 465-5074  www.AstoundTech.com
Astound Technologies LLC
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o 86% of physicians stated telemedicine effective for follow-up psychiatry
consultations with their child and adolescent patients living in nonmetropolitan
communities
 “Feasibility, Acceptability, and Sustainability of Telepsychiatry for
Children and Adolescents.” Myers, K.M., M.D., M.P.H., Valentine, J.M.,
Ph.D., Melzer,S.M., M.D., M.B.A. Psychiatric Services.
psychiatryonline.org. November 2007. Vol. 58. No. 11.
Create high satisfaction among patients and providers
o 90% of patients reported they were very satisfied or satisfied with the telehealth
service, based on greater convenience, time as well as cost savings.
 “Point, Click, Get Care: Online Care Brings Healthcare Directly to
Employees at Work or Home.” Schoenberg, R. CHDC Solutions.
March/April 2011.
o 89% of physicians willing to use telehealth again in the future.
 “Feasibility, Acceptability, and Sustainability of Telepsychiatry for
Children and Adolescents.” Myers, K.M., M.D., M.P.H., Valentine, J.M.,
Ph.D., Melzer,S.M., M.D., M.B.A. Psychiatric Services.
psychiatryonline.org. November 2007. Vol. 58. No. 11.
24 Arbolado Dr, Suite 100  Walnut Creek, CA 94598  Tel: (925) 465-5074  Fax: (925) 465-5074  www.AstoundTech.com
Astound Technologies LLC
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