Since the start of the COVID pandemic, telemedicine has taken a far more active role in every area of healthcare from doctor’s offices, to hospitals and everything in between. But do nursing homes with onsite staff need to include telemedicine in their practices? The answer is a resounding “yes.”
Current statistics show that 10% of post-acute patients admitted into nursing homes never see a physician. The result of this is that, within the first 30 days, these patients are 2x more likely to be re-hospitalized or to die. It’s also taking much too long for those patients who do end up having a follow up visit with a doctor or APRN. Residents of metropolitan nursing homes are waiting an average of 3.2 days and those in rural facilities are waiting an average of 8.1 days before they ever see a physician. This lack of access to physicians or APRNs leads to poor medical outcomes and increased hospitalization for conditions that could have been treated in-house with proper detection.
Giving every nursing home access to telemedicine would greatly improve medical outcomes and reduce hospitalizations and Medicare costs. Our most vulnerable population deserves the best care we can give.
Infographic by: tapestryhealth
