DH Connected Care: A Summary
This document details the impressive impact of DH Connected care, a telehealth program designed to extend specialist care to rural hospitals and patients. Here’s a breakdown of key information:
What is DH Connected Care?
DH Connected Care utilizes technology – mobile carts, tablets, dedicated audiovisual equipment – to bring specialist consultations directly to patients in their local hospitals. DH clinicians collaborate with local providers to ensure patients recieve the necessary care without needing to travel to larger medical centers.
Services Offered (24/7):
* TeleICU: intensive Care Unit support
* teleneurology/Stroke: Neurological consultations, notably for stroke patients
* TeleEmergency: Emergency room support
* TelePsychiatry: Psychiatric consultations (including pediatric)
* TeleICN: Neonatal intensive care support
* TelePharmacy: Remote pharmacy services
Reach & Volume (approximate numbers):
* Total TeleICU Admissions: 38,000
* TeleNeurology/stroke Consults: 26,000
* TeleEmergency Encounters: 3,800
* TelePsychiatry Encounters: 4,500
* TeleICN Encounters: 375
* TelePharmacy Orders: 6,000,000+ (and 1 million per year currently)
* Video Encounters (Annual): ~50,000
* Outpatient Virtual Visits (Annual): ~150,000 (peaked at 2,000/day during pandemic, now ~650/day)
* cardiac Telemetry Monitoring: 200+ inpatient beds
Key outcomes:
* TeleNeurology/Stroke: 93% of patients complete care locally after consultation.
* TeleEmergency: Avoided patient transfers in 13% of cases.
* TelePsychiatry: 33% of pediatric patients discharged home after consultation; provides critical access to behavioral health in underserved areas.
* TeleICU: Shorter hospital stays & often doubles local ICU capacity.
* TeleICN: Two-thirds of deliveries stayed local.
Patient Experience:
* High Satisfaction: 91% of Virtual Urgent Care patients found telemedicine as good as in-person visits.
* 97% Satisfaction with telemedicine care overall.
* Convenience & Cost Savings: Reduces travel time,costs,and lost wages.
key to Success: Collaboration & Respect
DH Connected Care emphasizes a collaborative approach, recognizing the expertise of clinicians at rural hospitals. They prioritize understanding the unique challenges of critical access hospitals and fostering a partnership for problem-solving.
Future Vision:
To create a enduring telehealth infrastructure that addresses rural healthcare challenges – access, workforce, quality, cost, and transportation – while prioritizing care close to home.They aim to serve as a national model for rural telehealth.
In essence, DH Connected Care is a highly successful telehealth program demonstrably improving access to specialist care, patient outcomes, and the overall patient experience in rural communities.