Westchester's Telehealth Intervention Programs for Seniors helps residents 60 and older monitor vital signs and maintain good health so they can avoid unplanned hospital or other medical visits. It also helps them save money on health care, and the county spends less on Medicaid, a health-care program for the poor and disabled. TIPS began as a pilot program at several sites in 2013 and was officially launched in May. About 600 people have taken advantage of the service so far
- How it works: Pace University undergraduate students trained as technicians visit senior centers, senior housing, houses of worship and other locations to measure blood pressure and other vital signs and see if they could benefit from nutrition, transportation and other support services. The data is transmitted to a graduate student nurse at Pace who reviews it and provides notes to be reviewed at the next session. The nurse intervenes when an immediate or serious health risk is detected. Each participant leaves the session with a "TIPS sheet" that includes the results of their vital sign tests, explanations of what they mean and, if needed, other information like referrals.
At the kickoff event in May, 71 percent of the 180 senior citizens who participated were found to have "above normal" blood pressure readings. Nurses contacted physicians for two people who had severely high blood pressure.
The program is "high-tech and hi-touch," County Executive Rob Astorino said. "It's not meant to replace emergency care, but it's preventative and it's worked very well," he said.
- The cost: The county received a $1.38 million, three-year grant for the program from the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, which provides grants to direct service organizations to assist financially disadvantaged and vulnerable individuals and families. The county Department of Senior Programs and Services is providing $125,000 for the program this year, local funding required by the grant specifically to reach low-income residents. The department is spending another $125,000 in 2014 for a TIPS program that targets residents 60 and older. Pace University is providing in-kind services. Telehealth is a growing field around the country.
- Other benefits: In addition to being a successful public-private partnership that saves money on health care, the program encourages people to be pro-active about their health. It has social benefits because college students are interacting with senior citizens, the county executive said. "It's also breaking some of the isolation they feel," he said. Eventually the county Department of Senior Programs and Services would like the program to reach senior citizens in their homes.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Cara Matthews
Quelle/Source: LoHud - The Journal News, 03.10.2014
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