NEHI Receives Grant for Testing RPM Technology

July 29, 2010

Cambridge, MA (July 29, 2010) – The New England Healthcare Institute (NEHI) has been awarded a grant from the Center for Technology and Aging to test the efficacy of home-based monitoring equipment for older adults with chronic illnesses. The $100,000 grant, one of five awarded by the Center nationally, will be used to fund a “Home Telehealth” demonstration project involving patients in the Greater Boston area who have been hospitalized for congestive heart failure.  

Nationwide, eight of every ten older Americans suffer from one or more costly chronic illnesses, including congestive heart failure. It is estimated that successful utilization of remote patient monitoring technologies could reduce the costs of chronic disease by nearly $200 billion over 25 years by reducing emergency department visits, hospitalizations, hospital readmissions and other health care services. 

“This grant will enable NEHI to demonstrate how an important technology can make a significant difference in the quality of life for older adults with congestive heart failure,” said Wendy Everett, President of NEHI. David Lindeman, Director of the Center for Technology and Aging, said the projects “will underscore the need to reform reimbursement policies and make possible wider adoption of important technologies across the country.”

Participants in the NEHI project will use a Home Telehealth device daily to collect data about their physical health and symptoms. The device sends this information electronically to the patients’ care team for assessment and, if necessary, intervention. NEHI will conduct the project in partnership with the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative and Atrius Health.

The Center for Technology and Aging remote patient monitoring diffusion grants program is designed to expand use of remote patient monitoring technologies that help improve chronic disease management and post-acute care of older adults. A detailed summary of projects and the Remote Patient Monitoring Position Paper are available on the Center’s Web site (www.techandaging.org).

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About NEHI

The New England Healthcare Institute is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to transforming health care for the benefit of patients and their families. In partnership with members from all across the health care system, NEHI conducts evidence-based research and stimulates policy change to improve the quality and the value of health care. Together with this unparalleled network of committed health care leaders, NEHI brings an objective, collaborative and fresh voice to health policy. For more information, visit www.nehi.net. 

About The Center for Technology and Aging

The Center for Technology and Aging (teachandaging.org) supports the rapid adoption and diffusion of technologies that enhance independence and improve home and community-based care for older adults. Through grants, research and development of practical tools and best practice guidelines, the Center serves as an independent, nonprofit resource for improving the quality and cost-effectiveness of long-term care services. The Center was established with funding from The SCAN Foundation (thescanfoundation.org) and is affiliated with the Public Health Institute (phi.org) in Oakland, CA.