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Helping People Age in Place
Earlier this year, the Department of Health (DOH) Maui Office, launched
a pilot project designed to enhance services provided to home bound/medically
frail elderly. The project utilizes the HIPAA Compliant, web-based Interactive
Care platform to allow real time communications between patients and DOH
Public Health Nurses.
To date, we are one-half completed with the pilot telecare delivery project. The
collaboration with the Maui District Office of the Department of Health,
Interactive Care and Maui AgeWave has been interesting, challenging, full of
surprises, but most of all gratifying!
We have found broadband connectivity throughout the island to be solid, but still with many remote areas that
have difficulty in accessing the electronic world around them. We are finding this world full of real time
interaction, stimulation, interface and possibilities. Public health nurses are able to do things like track the healing
of a wound, watch a patient fill his/her pillbox, assess mobility and take blood pressure readings all from their
office.
In this, the initial phase of the pilot, all visits are still attended live by a nurse or skilled assistant and the visits
SUPPLEMENT rather than SUPPLANT the normal visits of the public health nurse, and patients have proved to
be happy and enthusiastic partners in the project.
We continue to gain expertise through each visit and share concepts about how this new, broadband supported
capability can help our homebound and remote citizens obtain quality access to care, save money and fuel the
economic engine of our island community.
Watch for more….
Patients receptive to telehealth services
Three fourths of American consumers would use telehealth services to track their conditions and vital
signs, and half are willing to seek healthcare through the Internet or other computer technoligy in place of
a face-to-face visit during nonemergencies, according to a study by the Health Research Institute of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. The survey also found that more than one third of responders would
consider alternate appointment methods suchs as a worksite clinic or retail clinic, and more than one
fourth of consumers would participate in shared medical appointments, if it meant keeping their medical
care costs from going up.
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Maui DOH/Maui AgeWave Update
January 2010
By Robin Pilus
In Hawaii, Interactive Care, LLC in concert with Maui AgeWave delivers web-based collaboration tools to healthcare
facilities and providers so that quality care can be provided to everyone, regardless of their location.
Connect. Collaborate. Care
Interactive Care connects physicians and patients across distances. Healthcare
services can often be provided remotely. Interactive Care enables the sharing of
images and information in real time so that physicians can collaborate with others
quickly and efficiently.
Interactive Care, LLC’s unique, web-based software approach uses the power of the
internet, typical PCs, and simple webcams to deliver high-quality video and voice
collaboration. The services ranges from basic audio and video communication to
complex collaboration efforts, combining images, animations, and data shared from
other medical applications or devices. Interactive Care enables healthcare providers
to remotely connect, collaborate and provide a level of care previously not attainable.
Linda Maui, DOH Public
Health Nurse conducts
a telecare visit on Maui.
TM
