Geisinger telemonitoring program achieved 3:1 ROI

A telemonitoring program implemented at Geisinger Health System (GHS) led to significant reductions in all-cause 30-day and 90-day readmissions. Moreover, for every $1 spent to implement the program, there was approximately $3.30 in savings, according to a study published in Population Health Management.

In 2008, GHS, based in Danville, Pa., implemented a telemonitoring program that specifically targets its members with heart failure. Telemonitoring enhanced an existing case management program—and was seen as a new tool to help extend the case manager’s reach for monitoring individuals with advancing heart failure, according to the study.

Through the program, patients were equipped with Advanced Monitored Caregiving Bluetooth scales with an interactive voice response system. In the system, a list of questions were programmed to detect changes in the physical conditions of the patient.

For the study, the researchers assessed the impact of the telemonitoring program by examining claims data of those GHP Medicare Advantage plan members who were enrolled in the program, measuring its impact in terms of all-cause hospital admission rates, readmission rates and total cost of care.

The telemonitoring program contributed to an overall 11 percent cost savings for GHS, and a ROI of 3.3.

“These findings imply that telemonitoring can be an effective add-on tool for managing elderly patients with heart failure,” wrote lead author Daniel D. Maend, PhD, et al.

Read the study.