Question

A healthcare coordinator works on a committee whose goals include decreasing hospital readmissions among patients who live in rural areas. The healthcare coordinator suggests Telehealth to assist in achieving this goal. Which benefit does telehealth bring to this community?

Answer 1

Telehealth reduces hospital readmissions in rural areas by enabling remote patient monitoring, continuous care management, and early detection of complications, aligning with the cost-efficiency goals of HMOs and ACA regulations.

Step-by-step explanation:

Telehealth brings several benefits to rural communities in efforts to decrease hospital readmissions. By providing remote patient monitoring and consultations, patients can receive ongoing care from their homes, preventing unnecessary travel to hospitals. Moreover, telehealth facilitates continuous care management and easy follow-up, addressing patients' needs proactively and potentially catching complications early, which can lead to a reduction in the need for readmissions. This is particularly important in the framework of health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which promote cost-efficiency and quality care.