Part of a successful telehealth program, especially one that helps underserved populations, is having easy-to-use technology in place, says Michael Adcock, R.N., administrator for the Center for Telehealth at University of Mississippi Medical Center.
Adcock tells Healthcare Informatics that the remote monitoring program at UMMC also is very focused on patient engagement and empowering them in their own care. Technology can greatly help in educating patients on diseases and on ways they can change their behavior to better their health, he adds.
"We want them to, eventually, manage their disease process without the use of technology," he says. "Evidence shows that with this type of program, the majority of the behavioral changes will happen within the first four to six months. So it's education and immediate intervention to help empower change." Article