Patients are "telemonitored" in their own homes

Jan. 15, 2004 — Patients served by Chesapeake Health's ComfortCare Home Health Services are getting a check-up every day in the comfort of their homes, through the use of new, in-home telemonitoring technology.

ComfortCare has an exclusive agreement with HomMed L.L.C. of Brookfield, Wis. to offer a system that collects patients vital signs daily. Those vital signs include heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, body weight and temperature.

We believe that telemonitoring is the future of home care and are excited to deliver the most up-to-date, technologically advanced medical care to our patients, said Carol Hersman, ComfortCare's administrator. The system allows us to deliver high-quality care to our clients by providing us with daily, real-time clinical information about their health status.

The health benefits of in-home monitoring are far-reaching.

When patients vital signs are taken on a daily basis, irregularities can be caught before they become full-fledged problems. Nurses can be sent to patients homes and, based on the daily data, work directly with the patient's doctor to adjust medication and diet regimens. Patients also become more aware of their condition and understand the effects diet, activity and other factors have on their health.

Telemonitoring also lets health care professionals work more efficiently, since one nurse can monitor numerous patients at a time and effectively direct medical attention to those who need it.

Among the patients using monitors are those with congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension and pregnancy-induced high blood pressure.

The HomMed Health Monitoring System is individually programmed for patients according to parameters established by their personal physicians. In just three minutes, the system collects a variety of vital signs. Peripherals such as a glucose meter, spirometer to measure lung function, a system to record blood clotting times, digital camera for wound care and ECG device to monitor heart rhythms can be attached for specialized patient care.

The HomMed System can gather subjective data on patients fatigue and general wellness levels, as well.

For more information on the HomMed telemonitoring, call ComfortCare Home Health Services at 757.312.6460.