New Findings Link Telehealth-Enabled Care Coordination with Reduced
Mortality for Patients with Congestive Heart Failure
PALO ALTO, Calif., Nov. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Robert Bosch
Healthcare, Inc., the market leader in evidence-based telehealth
solutions, and a subsidiary of the Bosch Group, today announced new
evidence that an integrated telehealth and care management program
(the Health Buddy Program) can significantly reduce all-cause
mortality in high-cost, high-risk Medicare beneficiaries with heart
failure (HF).
In 2010, costs associated with HF were estimated to be
$34.4 billion annually (direct and
indirect costs).[i] In 2006, Medicare beneficiaries with HF
accounted for 37 percent of all Medicare spending and 50 percent of
all inpatient hospital costs.[ii] Developing strategies to
reduce readmission rates and improve outcomes for patients with HF
has become a national health priority.
Retrospective Medicare claims data for HF beneficiaries enrolled
in the 2006-2010 Medicare Care Management for High-Cost
Beneficiaries (CMHCB) Demonstration in the Pacific Northwest
(intervention group) were compared to control HF Medicare
beneficiaries. HF was identified by ICD-9 codes and intervention
and control beneficiaries were propensity-score matched using
logistic regression. The program's effect on all-cause mortality
over three years was estimated using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis
and Cox proportional hazards models. Data for 623 matched pairs of
Medicare HF beneficiaries were analyzed.
The results showed that care management combined with the Health
Buddy System was associated with a 25 percent reduction in
all-cause mortality risk in beneficiaries with HF, who were offered
the program and a 57 percent reduction in mortality risk for those
HF beneficiaries who actively participated in the program.
Lead author of the study, Robert L. Page
II, PharmD, MSPH, Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacy
at the University of Colorado School of
Pharmacy, stated: "Over the past five years, integrated
telemedicine programs have become an emerging tool to assist
providers in the complex management of patients with heart failure.
What sets the Health Buddy Program apart from other devices is that
this program engages the patient in all aspects of their
care-signs, symptoms, health behaviors, and knowledge of these
health behaviors. Our study found a significant reduction in
mortality in patients with heart failure with the greatest benefit
in those who actually engaged in the program. I believe that the
key is motivating the patient to become engaged in their care."
According to Dr. Jasper zu Putlitz, M.D. and president of Robert
Bosch Healthcare Systems, Inc.: "These data have once again
demonstrated that the Health Buddy System can activate
collaboration and inspire engagement among patients and their care
team in ways that lead to better clinical outcomes. In this case,
it has shown that for heart failure patients, use of the Health
Buddy System can extend their lives."
The abstract of the study can be accessed at:
http://www.abstractsonline.com/plan/ViewAbstract.aspx?mID=2974&sKey=b70822cd-ea79-4997-91cc-78f0ce4b8c6e&cKey=fdc55578-6d4e-497d-82d5-6720324ef0fe&mKey=%7B14145D5B-F96B-4354-8237-8F0937744BA4%7D
Background on Medicare's CMHCB Demonstration Project
The Medicare CMHCB demonstration was conducted at Wenatchee Valley
Medical Center in Wenatchee,
Washington and Bend Memorial Clinic in Bend, Oregon, from 2006 through January 2012. The care management teams at both
clinics used Bosch Healthcare's content-based remote patient
monitoring (the Health Buddy System) to improve the communication
with patients, monitor their vital-sign data and increase patients'
knowledge about their chronic illness(es). Previous analyses of the
data showed lower healthcare resource utilization and costs among
other positive outcomes.[iii]
About the Health Buddy System
Used by more
than 150,000 patients since 2001, the Health Buddy System allows
patients to take a more active role in monitoring their health and
symptoms while at home. Each day, the Health Buddy System provides
patients with a series of personalized questions, education and
useful tips to help take better care of their health. Data
generated by the Health Buddy System is sent via a telephone line,
wireless modem or Ethernet connection to a secure data center and
quickly analyzed, giving healthcare providers the opportunity to
intervene before the patient's condition becomes critical.
About Robert Bosch Healthcare
Robert Bosch
Healthcare Systems, Inc., is a leading provider of innovative
telehealth systems. Bosch's product spectrum ranges from patient
interfaces to comprehensive health management and patient
evaluation software allowing healthcare professionals to
efficiently evaluate the patient's health status. Bosch Healthcare
strives to help improve diagnosis and treatment through systematic
patient monitoring and involvement. The result is that health
professionals are able to provide a higher quality of care for
patients with chronic conditions, patients lead happier and
healthier lives, and the cost of healthcare is reduced for payers.
Robert Bosch Healthcare Systems, Inc. is a fully owned subsidiary
of the Bosch Group. For more information, go to
www.bosch-telehealth.com.
About the Bosch Group
In the U.S.,
Canada and Mexico, the Bosch Group manufactures and
markets automotive original equipment and aftermarket products,
industrial drives and control technology, power tools, security and
communication systems, packaging technology, thermotechnology,
household appliances, solar energy, healthcare telemedicine and
software solutions. Having established a regional presence in 1906,
Bosch employs over 23,000 associates in more than 100 locations,
with sales of $9.8 billion in fiscal
year 2011. For more information, visit
www.boschusa.com.
The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and
services. In the areas of automotive and industrial technology,
consumer goods, and building technology, more than 300,000
associates generated sales of 51.5 billion
euros in fiscal 2011. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch
GmbH and its roughly 350 subsidiaries and regional companies in
some 60 countries. If its sales and service partners are included,
then Bosch is represented in roughly 150 countries. This worldwide
development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for
further growth. Bosch spent some 4.2 billion
euros for research and development in 2011, and applied for
over 4,100 patents worldwide. With all its products and services,
Bosch enhances the quality of life by providing solutions which are
both innovative and beneficial. Further information is available
online at www.bosch.com
and www.bosch-press.com
.
The company was set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861-1942) as "Workshop for
Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering." The special
ownership structure of Robert Bosch GmbH guarantees the
entrepreneurial freedom of the Bosch Group, making it possible for
the company to plan over the long term and to undertake significant
up-front investments in the safeguarding of its future. Ninety-two
percent of the share capital of Robert Bosch GmbH is held by Robert
Bosch Stiftung GmbH, a charitable foundation. The majority of
voting rights are held by Robert Bosch Industrietreuhand KG, an
industrial trust. The entrepreneurial ownership functions are
carried out by the trust. The remaining shares are held by the
Bosch family and by Robert Bosch GmbH.
[i] Heidenreich PA, Trogdon JG, Khavjou OA, Butler J, Dracup K,
Ezekowitz MD, et al. Forecasting the future of cardiovascular
disease in the United States: a
policy statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation.
2011;123(8):933–944.
[ii] Page RL, Strongin KB, Mills RM, Hogan C, Lindenfeld J. The
Magnitude of Health Care Resource Utilization by Medicare
Beneficiaries with Heart Failure. Circulation. 2007;116:II_600.
[iii] Baker LC, Johnson SJ, Macaulay D, Birnbaum H. Integrated
Telehealth and Care Management Program for Medicare Beneficiaries
with Chronic Disease Linked to Savings." Health Affairs. 2011;
30(9):1689-97.
SOURCE Robert Bosch Healthcare, Inc.