The costs and benefits of technology-enabled, home-based cardiac rehabilitation measured in a randomised controlled trial.
We conducted a cost benefit analysis of a home telehealth-based cardiac rehabilitation programme compared to the standard hospital-based programme. A total of 120 participants were enrolled in a trial, with 60 randomised to the telehealth group and 60 randomised to usual care. Participants in the telehealth group received a mobile phone, Wellness Diary and a Wellness web portal, with daily text messaging. Participants in the usual care group received the standard 6-week hospital-based outpatient cardiac rehabilitation programme, including gym sessions. The cost of delivery by telehealth was slightly lower than for patients attending a rehabilitation service in person. From the provider's perspective, the telehealth intervention could be delivered for $1633 per patient, compared to $1845 for the usual care group. From the participant's perspective, patient travel costs for home rehabilitation were substantially less than for hospital attendance ($80 vs $400). Cardiac rehabilitation by telehealth offers obvious advantages and the option should be available to all patients who are eligible for cardiac rehabilitation.
Nexus Online Pty Ltd, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia frank@nexusonline.com.au.
Frank
F
Whittaker
Discipline of General Practice, University of Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Victoria
V
Wade
D000368:Aged; D000072038:Cardiac Rehabilitation; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000191:economics; D040421:Cell Phone; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D015444:Exercise; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics; D006699:Home Care Services / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012944:Social Support; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods