Telehealth for Chronic Disease Management
Why the Growth of Telehealth Technology Is So Valuable for Managing Diabetes
By Jennifer Peterson, DNP, APRN, LMT, FNP-BC
Telehealth services have become more widely accepted and utilized since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Laws and payor reimbursements have been modified to accommodate the nation’s need for telehealth services. The Community Preventative Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommends telehealth interventions for chronic disease management. A chronic disease lasts three months or longer, such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Around 40% of the U.S. population has a chronic disease and more than 1/3 is living with multiple chronic conditions. Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death and disability in the U.S. Telehealth interventions have been found to improve several aspects of chronic disease management, including medication adherence, clinical outcomes, and dietary outcomes.
How providers use telehealth for chronic disease management
One of the biggest problems for those with chronic illness is continuity of care (coordination and integration of a patient’s medical information and care across all healthcare providers and settings). Telehealth makes continuity of care more likely thus improving overall health and decreasing hospitalizations. Additionally, primary care providers and specialists tend to be in short supply in some areas. Patients may have difficulty traveling long distances to see a care provider, hindering the continuity of care. However, telehealth offers the opportunity to correspond with a care provider from the comfort of home, increasing access to care while lowering or eliminating travel expenses.
Care providers can remotely monitor a patient’s condition, know whether the patient is following treatment guidelines, and provide guidance and support. Mobile devices, video, and audio can be used to remind patients to take their medications, monitor their lifestyle changes, remind them to eat healthy and stay active, and triage new symptoms in real-time, all improving upon a patient’s health status and reducing hospital readmissions.
The future of telehealth
A survey by SYKES in March 2020 found that 96% of people who have tried a telehealth visit would schedule or have already scheduled another visit. A study conducted by Noel et al. revealed telehealth patients found their interventions to be valuable and if able, 98% would continue to use telehealth to manage their healthcare needs. Patients appear to be receptive and responsive to telehealth interventions and continuity of care can improve with the integration of telehealth; therefore, telehealth is an excellent option for chronic disease management.
About the author
Dr. Jennifer Peterson, Nurse Practitioner, is the Director of Quality Assurance and Integration for GlyCare. She has years of experience managing diabetes for patients in the hospital and now trains other nurse practitioners to do the same. Dr. Peterson also ensures GlyCare provides high-quality services for all patients through a quality review program she created.
References
Bennett, J. (2018). Telehealth for chronic illnesses.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Telehealth interventions to improve chronic disease.
InTouch Health. (2020). How telemedicine is changing chronic disease management for the better.
Noel, K., Messina, C., Hou, W., Schoenfeld, E., & Kelly, G. (2020). Tele-transitions of care (TTOC): a 12 month, randomized controlled trial evaluating the use of telehealth to achieve triple aim objectives. BMC Family Practice, 21(27). doi: 10.1186/s12875-020-1094-5
Learn more about partnering with GlyCare for a turn-key diabetes management service. For more information on how to incorporate either in-person or virtual diabetes management, contact us today.