Chronic Diseases Managed With Telemedicine

By Katie Wike, contributing writer

Telemedicine can help patients with chronic diseases manage their care, although one study cautions a uniform telemedicine approach wouldn’t be effective.

Researchers including former American Telemedicine Association President Rashid Bashshur have determined telemedicine can be extremely helpful in chronic disease management. Their study, published in Telemedicine and e-Health focused on the management of congestive heart failure, stroke, and obstructive pulmonary disease.

While telemedicine was found to be an effective way to help manage these diseases, it’s important to note that a uniform approach was not endorsed.

iHealth Beat reports in the case of congestive heart failure, long-term telemonitoring was the best approach. Telepulmonology that remotely measures lung function was the best option for those suffering from obstructive pulmonary disease and stroke patients were best monitored with a telestroke method that could prompt early interventions.

Fierce Health IT further writes that, although these diseases may require different approaches, telemedicine in general did improve health outcomes. Researchers saw a reduction in services, reduced readmissions and length of stay, and as a decreased mortality rate.

“There is an ever-growing and complex body of empirical evidence that attests to the potential of telemedicine for addressing problems of access to care, quality of care, and healthcare costs in the management of the three chronic diseases chosen for this review,” concluded researchers.

“Despite some inconsistencies in methodologies, the preponderance of the evidence produced by telemonitoring studies points to significant trends in reducing hospitalization and emergency department visits and preventing and/or limiting illness severity and episodes, resulting in improved health outcomes.”