title: A cost analysis of remote monitoring in a heart failure program.
abstract: In this study, we examine the cost per outcomes of remote monitoring services in home health care. The methodology followed case matched design via retrospective chart reviews. Results of the chi-square test suggest that there were no significant associations between the intervention and hospital readmissions, χ2= (1, n = 210, p-value = .71, phi = .71). An independent t-test compared group means of the number of skilled nursing visits and agency costs, p-value of .002 and .000, respectively, favoring the standard of care group. Based on this data set, the home care agency lost $153.46 for each hospital readmission in the intervention group. The cost of care complicated the agency's resources through an increase in nursing visits without offsetting the agency's investment into technology; the cost did not support remote monitoring as a financially viable option to the standard of care.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Public Health, Brooks College of Health , University of North Florida , Jacksonville , Florida , USA.
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: b College of Health and Public Affairs , University of Central Florida , Orlando , Florida , USA.
authors.forename: Thomas T H
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Wan
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057216:Propensity Score; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013686:Telemetry / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States
keywords: Clinical practice; community and home care; evaluation of services; home health care; quality of care; service delivery; service utilization