Whatisthein-Hometelemonitoringforveteranstrial?

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HealthCareProviders

WhatistheIn-HomeTelemonitoringforVeteransTrial?

TheDepartmentofVeterans’Affairs(DVA)In-HomeTelemonitoringforVeteransTrialusesbroadbandtechnology tolinkveteransandwarwidow/ersin theirhomeswiththeirgeneralpractices.Thetrialenablesparticipantsto measuretheirvitalsignsathomeandhavetheirGPandnursecoordinator(usuallythe practicenurse)remotely monitortheirreadingsandconsultbyvideoconferenceorface-to-faceasneeded.

Thetrialofin-hometelemonitoringforveteranscommencedin Armidale,NSWin June2013.Othersiteswherethe trialisunderwayincludeCoffsHarbour,NSW,andToowoomba,Qld.Othersitesarealsobeingconsidered.To date potentialtelemonitoringtrialsiteshavebeenselectedonthe availabilityofbroadbandtechnologyandthe number ofveteransandwarwidow/erswithchronicconditions.

Howwillthe trialwork?

Onceaveteranorwarwidow/erisselectedtoparticipateinthetrial,telemonitoringequipmentisinstalledinatheir homeandtheyarecoachedonhowtouseittomeasuretheirvitalsignsaccordingtotheirindividualcareplan(devel- opedin consultationwiththeirGP). Measurementsmayincludebloodpressure,bloodglucoseandlungcapacity.

Aparticipatingpracticewillbeprovidedwithtailoredtrainingandsupporttoallowmonitoringofveterans’vitalsigns throughtheweb-portal,‘icptriagemanager’.TunstallHealthcare–thetechnologyandservicesupplierforthetrial

–willalsoprovidealltechnicaltroubleshootingandclinicalco-monitoringforeachpractice’sparticipatingveterans foraperiod uptothreemonths,tohelpembedtelemonitoringin dailybusinessprocesses.

Oncemeasurementsaretakenthetelemonitoring equipmentsendsthemtotheirGP’smedicalpractice.Anurse coordinatoratthepracticemonitorsthereadingsandworkswiththeGPtoaddressreadingsasnecessary.The veterancanthenbeconsultedbyvideoconferenceorin aface-to-faceappintmentifrequired.

GP

TELEMONITORING PROVIDERPORTAL ANDSECUREHEALTH DATASTORAGESITE

NURSE COORDINATOR

OTHERHEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

PARTICIPANTUSING TELEMONITORING EQUIPMENT

ATHOME

KEYTOCOMMUNICATIONFLOWS

TRADITIONALBROADBANDTECHNOLOGY

Whyisthereatrial?

Thetrialwilldetermine iftelemonitoringisasafe,effectiveandefficient complementtoface-to-faceGPconsultations. Thetrial will beevaluatedtoseeifthenumberofunplannedhospitalisationsofparticipantsisreduced,andif telemonitoringcanimprovetheirqualityoflifeandtheirabilitytolivein theirownhomesforlonger.

Whoiseligibleto takepartinthe trial?

Onlysomeveteransandwarwidowsareeligibleto takepartin the telemonitoringtrial.Theyneedto:

• hold aRepatriationHealth Card–ForAllConditions,or‘GoldCard’

• livein oneofthe trialareas

• haveoneormoreofthe followingchronicconditions:congestiveheartfailure,coronaryarterydisease,chronic obstructivepulmonarydisease,and/ordiabetes

• not livein aresidentialagedcarefacility

• consentto takepartin boththe trialandDVA’sCoordinatedVeterans’Care(CVC)Program

• agreetobeconnectedtobroadbandandhavetelemonitoringequipmentinstalledin theirhome

• haveaGPwhoagreestoparticipatein the trial.

Whatisthe GP’s roleinthe trial?

TheGP’sroleisto:

• discusswithveteranandwarwidow/erpatientsthe advantagesofparticipatingin the telemonitoringtrial(and the CVCProgramiftheyarenot alreadyenrolled)andobtaintheirconsent

• prepareorupdateveterans’ healthcareplans toincludetelemonitoring

• understandthe capabilityofthe veterans’ telemonitoringequipmentandthe monitoringsoftware

• reviewveterans’ healthdataifthe nursecoordinatorobtainsirregularreadings

• takeappropriateclinicalactionin responsetoirregularreadings,

• conductvideoconsultationswiththe veteranasrequired

Whatisthe nursecoordinator’srole?

Thenursecoordinator’sroleisto:

• assistin developingorupdatinghealthcareplans toincludetelemonitoring

• attendtrainingprovidedbyDVAin the useoftelemonitoringequipmentandsoftware

• visitthe veteran’s homewhentelemonitoringequipmentisbeinginstalledandassesstheircapacitytosuc- cessfullyusethe equipment

• monitorandevaluateveterans’ healthdatagatheredbythe telemonitoringequipment

• wherethe veteran’s vitalsignsareoutsidethe normalrange,consultwiththe GPtodeterminethe appropriate action,and

• regularlydiscussthe veteran’s healthstatuswiththe GP.

Apracticeincentive paymentthatrecognises thepreparatoryworkinvolved,includingthetimeofthenursecoordi- nator.TunstallHealthcarewillprovidealltechnicaltroubleshooting,clinicalco-monitoringforuptothreemonths, andanysupportyourpracticerequires.

Whatisthe CoordinatedVeterans’CareProgram?

TheCVCProgramusesaproactive,teamapproachtomanagethehealthcareofveteranswhoarechronicallyill.The team ismadeupoftheGP,theveteranandanursecoordinatorwhoisusuallytheGP’spracticenurse, andmayalso involveotherhealthprofessionals.

Forfurther information abouttheCVCProgram,visit aboutthe

In-HomeTelemonitoringforVeteransTrial,visit