Nursing Outlook
Volume 56, Issue 4 , Pages 152-158 , July 2008

Telehealth: A policy analysis for quality, impact on patient outcomes, and political feasibility

  • Linda Prinz, BSN
  • ,
  • Mary Cramer, PhD, APRN-CNS

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author: Dr. Mary Cramer, UNMC College of Nursing Community-Based Health, 985330 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5330.
  • ,
  • Andrea Englund, BSN

References 

  1. American Academy of Family Physicians. Telehealth discussion paper [Internet]. http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/aboutus/specialty/rural/telemed/telehealth.htmlAccessed July 22, 2007
  2. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Strengthening the rural health infrastructure: Telemedicine in rural areas, research findings and issues for states Retrieved July 23. http://www.ahrq.gov/news/ulp/ulpstren8.htm2007;
  3. Thomas (Library of Congress) 2007: 110th Congress: Bill 1601 IH Telehealth and Medically Underserved and Advancement Act of 2007 (Introduced in the House of Representatives). http://thomas.loc.gov/Accessed August 1, 2007
  4. United States Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS). Healthy People 2010: Understanding and Improving Health. 2nd ed.. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office; 2000;
  5. Hartley D. Rural health disparities, population health, and rural culture. Am J Public Health. 2004;94:1675–1678
  6. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Fact sheet: Health care disparities in rural areas, selected findings from the 2004 national healthcare disparities report. AHRQ. http://www.agrq.gov/research/ruraldisp/ruraldispar.pdfAccessed July 23, 2007
  7. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economics Research Service. Rural America at a glance. www.ers.usda.gov/Emphases/RuralAccessed July 23, 2007
  8. United States Census Bureau. Projected population of the United States, by age and sex: 2000 to 2050. http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/usenterimproj/Accessed September 9, 2007
  9. Mason D, Leavitt J, Chaffee M. Policy and Politics in Nursing and Health Care. 5th ed.. St Louis, MO: Saunders Publishing; 2007;
  10. United States Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS)Bureau of Health Professions. Projected supply, demand, and shortages of registered nurses: 2000-2020. http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforceAccessed July 23, 2007
  11. Buerhaus PI, Staiger D, Auerbach D. Implications of an aging registered nurse workforce. JAMA. 2000;282:2948–2954
  12. Buerhaus P, Donelan K, Ulrich B, Norman L, Dittus R. State of the registered nurse workforce in the United States. Nurs Econ. 2006;24:6–12
  13. Unruh L, Fottler M. Projections and trends in RN supply: What do they tell us about the nursing shortage?. Policy Polit Nurs Pract. 2005;6:171–182
  14. Cramer M, Nienbaer J, Helget P, Agrawal S. Comparative analysis of urban and rural nursing workforce shortages in Nebraska. Policy Polit Nurs Pract. 2006;7:248–260
  15. Cramer M, Chen L, Mueller K, Shambaugh-Miller M, Agrawal S. Predictive model to determine need for nursing workforce. Policy Polit Nurs Pract. 2004;5:174–190
  16. Hart G, Salsberg E, Phillips D, Lishner D. Rural health care providers in the United States. J Rural Health. 2002;8:211–232
  17. Jenkins RL. Assessing elderly patients with congestive heart failure via in-home interactive telecommunication. J Gerontol Nurs. 2001;27:21–27
  18. Anonymous . Tech talk (Study reveals technology advancements improve nursing productivity and retention rates). Caring. 2005;24:44–45
  19. American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing. Telehealth nursing practice administration and practice standards. 3rd ed.. Pitman, NJ: American Academy of Ambulatory Care; 2004;
  20. Hopp FP, Hogan MM, Woodbridge PA, Lowery JC. The use of telehealth for diabetes management: A qualitative study of telehealth provider perceptions. Implement Science. 2007;2:14
  21. Kleinpell RM, Avitall B. Integrating telehealth as a strategy for patient management after discharge for cardiac surgery: Results of a pilot study. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2007;22:38–42
  22. Buckley KM, Tran BQ, Prandoni CM, Clark HM. Training future providers in home care and telehealth technologies: A collaboration effort between nursing and biomedical engineering. Home Health Care Management & Practice. 2002;14:36–375
  23. Information Week's Optimize. Telehealth device industry group to announce technical standards, insurance reimbursement trials. http://tie.telemed.org/homeheatlhAccessed March 10, 2007
  24. Winters JM, Winters JM. Videoconferencing and telehealth technologies can provide a reliable approach to remote assessment and teaching without compromising quality. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2007;22:51–57
  25. Saqui O, Chang A, McGonigle S, Purdy B, Fairholm L, Baun M. Telehealth videoconferencing: Improving home parenteral nutrition patient care to rural areas of Ontario, Canada. JPEN. 2007;31:234–239
  26. Jacobus C. Telemedicine technology review: Why hasn't telemedicine taken off yet?. http://www.cybernetmedical.com/files/telemedicinereview.pdfAccessed March 10, 2007
  27. Hogue EE. Home telehealth: Risk management in home telehealth. Telehealth Practice Report. 2005;9:9–10
  28. Szabo J. New funding approach may boost telemedicine. Hospitals & Health Networks. 2007;81:30
  29. Artinian NT. Telehealth as a tool for enhancing care for patients with cardiovascular disease. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2007;22:25–31
  30. Chumbler NR, Neugaard B, Kobb R, Ryan P, Qin H, Joo Y. Evaluation of a care coordination/home-telehealth program for veterans with diabetes: Health services utilization and health-related quality of life. Eval Health Prof. 2005;28:464–478
  31. Kobb R, Hoffman N, Lodge R, Kline S. Enhancing elder chronic care through technology and care coordination: Report from a pilot. Telemed J E Health. 2003;9:189–195
  32. Meyer M, Kobb R, Ryan P. Virtually healthy: Chronic disease management in the home. Disease Management. 2002;F5:87–94
  33. Chan DS, Callahan CW, Sheets SJ, Moreno CN, Malone FJ. An internet-based store-and-forward video home telehealth system for improving asthma outcomes in children. Am J Health-Systems Pharmaco. 2003;60:1976–1981
  34. Barnason S, Zimmerman L, Nieveen J, Hertzog M. Impact of a telehealth intervention to augment home health care on functional and recovery outcomes of elderly patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting. Heart Lung: J Acute Crit Care. 2006;35:225–233
  35. Schofield RS, Kline SE, Schmalfuss CM, Carver HM, Aranda JM-Fr, Pauly DF, et al. Early outcomes of a care coordination-enhanced telehome care program, for elderly veterans with chronic heart failure. J Telemed E Health. 2005;11:20–27
  36. Chumbler MR, Mann WC, Wu S, Schmid A, Kobb R. The association of home-telehealth use and care coordination with improvement of functional and cognitive functioning in frail elderly men. J Telemed E Health. 2004;10:129–137
  37. Chumbler NR, Vogel WB, Garel M, Qin H, Kobb R, Ryan P. Health service utilization of care coordination/home-telehealth program for veterans with diabetes: A matched-cohort study. J Ambul Care Manage. 2005;28:230–240
  38. Duke C. The frail elderly community-based case management project. Geriatr Nurs. 2005;26:122–127
  39. Artinian N, Harden J, Kronenberg M, Vander Wal JS, Daher E, Stephens Q, et al. Pilot study of a web-based compliance-monitoring device for patients with congestive heart failure. Heart Lung. 2003;32:226–233
  40. Lauderdale MSE, Lacsamama BS, Palsbo MS. Law and Policy in Telemedicine Medicaid and Telemedicine in 2002. Telehealth Practice Report. 2003;8:14–15
  41. Bowles KH, Baugh AC. Applying research evidence to optimize tele-homecare. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2007;22:5–15
  42. Whitten P, Mickus M. Home telecare for COPD/CHF patients: Outcomes and perceptions. J Telemed Telecare. 2007;13:69–73
  43. Romberger JS, Dansky K. Is there a business case for telehealth in home health agencies?. J Telemed E Health. 2006;12:122–127
  44. Utterback K. Home Telehealth: Supporting a new model of care with telehealth technology. Telehealth Practice. 2005;9:3
  45. Benatar D, Bondmass M, Ghitelman J, Avital B. Outcomes of congestive heart failure. Arch Intern Med. 2003;163:347–352
  46. Dansky K, Bowles K, Palmer L. Clinical outcomes of tele-homecare for diabetic patients receiving home care. J Infect Technology Healthcare. 2003;1:61–74
  47. Johnston B, Wheeler L, Deuser J, Sousa K. Outcomes of the Kaiser Permanente telehome-health research project. Arch Fam Med. 2000;9:44–45
  48. Chetney R. The Cardiac Connection Program. Home Health Nurse. 2003;21:680–686
  49. Brown N. State Medicaid and private payer reimbursement for telemedicine: An overview. J Telemed Telecare. 2006;12:S32–S39
  50. Kinsella A. Telenurses today creating the new picture of home care. HomeHealth Nurse. 2002;294–296
  51. Walsh M, Coleman JR. Trials and tribulations: A small pilot telehealth home care program for Medicare patients. Geriatr Nurs. 2005;26:343–346
  52. Government Affairs. National Association for Home Care & Hospice: 2005 Legislative Blueprint for Action. Washington, DC: Government Affairs. http://www.congressbeb.com/nahc.docfiles/Legislative%20Blueprint%20Homecare%202005.pdfAccessed on October 15, 2007
  53. Heffler S, Smith S, Keehan S, Clemens MK, Zezza M, Truffer C. Health spending projections through 2013. Health Aff. 2004;W4(Suppl Web Exclusives):79–93
  54. American Nurses Association Policy Series: Telehealth–Issues for Nursing. http://nursingworld.org/readroom/tele2.htmAccessed January 28, 2007
  55. Dansky K, Bowles K, Britt T. Nurse's response to telemedicine in home healthcare. J Heath Manag 199;13:27-38.
  56. National Rural Health Association (NRHA). 2007 Legislative and Regulatory Agenda. http://nrharural.org/advocacy/pdf/07.pdfAccessed on October 24, 2007
  57. Koch S. Home telehealth-current state and future trends. Int J Med Inform. 2006;75:565–576
  58. Wakeford L, Wittmann PP, White MW, Schmeier MR. The commission on practice: Telerehabilitation position paper. Am J Occup Ther. 2005;59:656–660
  59. Hoyman K. WOC practice in cyberspace: Legal and ethical issues. J Wound Ostomy Continence Nurs. 2001;28:190–198
  60. McCarty D, Clancy C. Telehealth: Implications for social work practice. Soc Work. 2002;47:153–161
  61. Scmeida M, McNeal R, Mossberger K. Policy determinants affect telehealth implementation. Telemed J E Health. 2007;13:100–107
  62. Puskin D, Kumekawa J United States Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS), Health Resources and Service Administration, Office for the Advancement of Telehealth. 2001 Telemedicine Report to Congress. Rockville, MD: USDHHS; 2001;

PII: S0029-6554(08)00045-6

doi: 10.1016/j.outlook.2008.02.005

Nursing Outlook
Volume 56, Issue 4 , Pages 152-158 , July 2008