Nurses made video calls as a matter of routine and while on call found the units helpful when trying to determine if an 'in person' visit was necessary. As part of the pilot project, a cost analysis was performed. Expenses related to traditional hospice care were tallied as well as costs incurred when launching and maintaining a telehospice service. A large hospice in Michigan, Hospice of Michigan has offices in both urban and rural settings. POTS units are installed in the homes of hospice recipients in both urban and rural communities.
Research projects are ongoing addressing issues of utilization, communication, efficacy, and cost.
Hospice Incorporated of Wichita has introduced the program to new patients referred for hospice care and units are delivered to the patients' homes as available. The plan calls for 40 units to be used in Kansas and 40 units in Michigan. Hospice, Inc. will be using units in both urban and rural communities. The TeleHospice project is currently underway at rural sites in Hospice of Hays Medical Center in Hays, Kansas and Hospice Services, Inc. in Phillipsburg, Kansas. TeleHospice Video Click here to view a QuickTime presentation of the TeleHospice Video.