Chicago, IL (MMD Newswire) January 26, 2009 -- HRS Home Health invested in new telemonitoring technology that has been proven to increase patient care, decrease patient hospital readmissions, and reduce costs incurred by insurance companies.  CMS Medicare announced that beginning in 2010 it will no longer reimburse for hospital admissions within 30 days of discharge for three major diagnoses, and that telemonitoring would recoup some of the $15 billion it spends on readmissions each year.  Bob Mikulak, CEO of HRS Home Health, said this new technology is already positively affecting the lives of HRS patients.

“Telemonitoring is a win-win situation for patients, payers, hospitals and home health agencies,” Mikulak said.  “Our patients have become more involved in their own plan of care and receive care in the comfort of their own homes.  Hospitals have reduced their length of stays and avoid readmissions while the insurance companies reduce cost.”

The new technology enables caregivers to monitor and assess a patient’s condition from a remote location.  The telemonitor transmits patient’s vital signs via cell towers from their home to a central computer station where a registered nurse monitors the patient reports.  Daily use of the telemonitoring devices can catch medical irregularities before they become full-fledged problems.  Most importantly, telemonitoring assists health professionals in avoiding unnecessary visits and patients are spared the time and stress of hospital transportation.

Mikulak said that as one of the nation’s largest concerns, the rising cost of healthcare will now be reduced in part by working with patients and hospitals to include telemonitoring technology as part of their regular method of care.

“It is our goal to work very closely with hospitals, skilled nursing facilities, and health clinics in developing on-site programs for utilizing telemonitoring devices that can be sent home with a patient that may be a high risk for readmission,” Mikulak said.  “We can support and invest in the technology but it will only work if hospitals and physicians start implementing it.”

HRS Home Health is a Chicago-based, privately owned company that serves a diverse population of patients of all ages in 10 counties, with specialization in high tech geriatric and pediatric nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. 

For more information about HRS Home Health, visit www.healthrs.net or call 312-604-3740.

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Contact:
Bob Mikulak
HRS Home Health
1700 W. Hubbard
Chicago, IL 60622
Phone: 312-604-3740
rmikulak@healthrs.net
http://www.healthrs.net

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