WALTHAM, Mass. (November 19, 2019)—According to the United States Census Bureau, within a 20-year timeframe, baby boomers will outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history. By 2034, there will be approximately 77 million people over 65 years old, compared to approximately 76 million people under the age of 18. Studies have long shown that older Americans account for a considerable share of health care services and costs—this is largely the result of this group’s susceptibility to chronic disease such as diabetes, heart disease and arthritis. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 85% of older adults have at least one chronic health condition, and 60% have at least two chronic conditions.
Thus, health care industry leaders and providers stress innovation and reliance on developing technology, including telehealth, to improve access and care to the fastest-growing age group in the U.S. Stuart Long, CEO of InfoBionic, a digital health company specializing in ambulatory remote patient monitoring and cardiac diagnostic services, urges healthcare leaders and stakeholders to explore telehealth options for seniors.
“It’s crucial that seniors are provided with the proper diagnostic and treatment technology and know how to use it,” said Long.
This process is slowly being adopted into the U.S., but there is still much to be done. A recent study from Spyglass Consulting Group, with clinical informatics and health IT thought leaders the primary respondents, revealed 88% have plans to use remote patient monitoring (RPM) to assist care-managers in monitoring and managing high-risk patients. However, the study also found significant challenges in RPM deployment due to limited resources and funding. Furthermore, RPM data isn’t well integrated with many existing clinical systems, creating additional barriers to full adoption.
“Seamless RPM integration and implementation is definitely no small feat,” said Long. “But these services are vital to the future of managing senior care remotely.”
In an ideal scenario, telehealth services will be used in tandem with in-home care to best diagnose, treat and educate seniors using the technologies designed to improve outcomes for their ailments. This facilitates a patient engagement model with the utmost collaboration and focuses on seniors so as to not limit their participation in personal healthcare decisions.
If health care leaders and providers work together to ensure steadfast implementation of telehealth services and continuing education of patients on the availability and use of such technologies, then the U.S. will be better prepared to care for the aging population.
“As we move towards a more health care tech-oriented world, it’s pivotal to look at how we can treat those we love as they age,” Long said. “RPM and other telehealth services provide an opportunity to assist home caregivers and better monitor patients, providing a better quality of life for all.”
Visit infobionic.com for more information.
