Dramatic results for Banner Health's telehealth pilot

Banner Health has reduced its costs of care by 27 percent and hospitalizations by 45 percent through a telehealth pilot program.

The Arizona-based system Intensive Ambulatory Care pilot program is part of its overall telehealth program and focused on the most complex and high-cost patients. The program was first launched in 2013.

The program reduced acute and long-term care costs by 32 percent, primarily due to the decrease in hospitalizations. Acute short-term hospital stays decreased from 7.7 hospitalizations per 100 patients per month to 4.9. The average number of days in the hospital per 100 patients per month also trended down from 90.2 to 65.8.

Calling the results dramatic, Hargobind Khurana, MD, Banner's senior medical director of Health Management, said they are "indicative of the exponential success such a program could have by engaging patients in their own care and building a strong support system. As we continue to expand this program, we anticipate seeing further proof that telehealth programs can address readmissions rates, reduce costs and improve the health and quality of life for patients with multiple chronic diseases.”