VIDEO: Telehealth program cuts cost, hospitalizations for chronic patients

It’s well known that complex, chronic patients are some of the costliest patients in the health care system and utilize a disproportionate amount of health care resources.

To address this population, Banner Health Network (BHN) recently began a series of innovative programs that incorporate telehealth, including Banner iCare, which uses advanced technology and high-touch services to treat patients with multiple, chronic conditions.

Banner Health is a multihospital health system that operates in seven Western states and includes primary care clinics, skilled nursing facilities, surgery centers, hospitals, and home health care services. BHN is an accountable care organization of Banner Health based in the broader Phoenix area.

In a video interview at the American Telemedicine Association annual conference, Deb Dahl, BHN vice president of patient innovation, discussed how Banner’s telehealth program was designed, its operations, and the challenges faced by leaders along the way.

She also highlighted the program’s progress thus far, which includes a 27% reduction in cost of care and a 45% reduction in hospitalizations. Finally, Ms. Dahl spoke on reimbursement within the program and whether the initiative can work for other practices and health systems.

[email protected]

On Twitter @legal_med

It’s well known that complex, chronic patients are some of the costliest patients in the health care system and utilize a disproportionate amount of health care resources.

To address this population, Banner Health Network (BHN) recently began a series of innovative programs that incorporate telehealth, including Banner iCare, which uses advanced technology and high-touch services to treat patients with multiple, chronic conditions.

Banner Health is a multihospital health system that operates in seven Western states and includes primary care clinics, skilled nursing facilities, surgery centers, hospitals, and home health care services. BHN is an accountable care organization of Banner Health based in the broader Phoenix area.

In a video interview at the American Telemedicine Association annual conference, Deb Dahl, BHN vice president of patient innovation, discussed how Banner’s telehealth program was designed, its operations, and the challenges faced by leaders along the way.

She also highlighted the program’s progress thus far, which includes a 27% reduction in cost of care and a 45% reduction in hospitalizations. Finally, Ms. Dahl spoke on reimbursement within the program and whether the initiative can work for other practices and health systems.

[email protected]

On Twitter @legal_med

It’s well known that complex, chronic patients are some of the costliest patients in the health care system and utilize a disproportionate amount of health care resources.

To address this population, Banner Health Network (BHN) recently began a series of innovative programs that incorporate telehealth, including Banner iCare, which uses advanced technology and high-touch services to treat patients with multiple, chronic conditions.

Banner Health is a multihospital health system that operates in seven Western states and includes primary care clinics, skilled nursing facilities, surgery centers, hospitals, and home health care services. BHN is an accountable care organization of Banner Health based in the broader Phoenix area.

In a video interview at the American Telemedicine Association annual conference, Deb Dahl, BHN vice president of patient innovation, discussed how Banner’s telehealth program was designed, its operations, and the challenges faced by leaders along the way.

She also highlighted the program’s progress thus far, which includes a 27% reduction in cost of care and a 45% reduction in hospitalizations. Finally, Ms. Dahl spoke on reimbursement within the program and whether the initiative can work for other practices and health systems.

[email protected]

On Twitter @legal_med