Personnel costs, for example, show direct positive results of telemedicine implementation. Agencies lose nurses' costly work time to travel for home visits, which results in fewer visits each day. Currently, the home care RN averages approximately five traditional home visits per day. The same nurse can make between 15 and 20 telemedicine visits per day. Not only do integrated health systems get the same personnel savings as an independent agency, but they also recognize the impact on their total financial picture.
Systems achieve additional savings across the continuum of care.
The program can reduce repeated emergency department visits and readmissions for chronically ill populations. 4 Agencies can also estimate direct impact by reviewing the number of referrals the agency couldn't accept due to provider shortage or geographic distance. If these patients could be treated appropriately using telemedicine, the system could increase its service area population. You may also incorporate more complex projections for telemedicine's indirect impact into the business plan. Provider satisfaction may mean increased referrals.