High-Intensity Telemedicine: An Innovative Healthcare Delivery Model to Reduce Emergency Department Visits for Seniors

ABSTRACT

Seniors are four times more likely to visit the emergency department (ED) than younger populations. A case series study by Shah et al. examined the use of high-intensity telemedicine for older, community-dwelling adults to reduce ED visits. The results of the study indicated fewer visits to and decreased time spent in the ED. However, the current literature on telemedicine as a health care delivery model has shown mixed results. Future research needs to identify the appropriate type of patients, health systems, and program factors that can predict the success of this health care delivery model.

Full text (PDF, 280KB)

Badowski M. High-Intensity Telemedicine: An Innovative Healthcare Delivery Model to Reduce Emergency  Department Visits for Seniors. UBCMJ. 2014; 6(1):12-14.