“Federal officials looking to improve telehealth access for the nation’s veterans may be overlooking an important tool: the tablet.”
“The Department of Veterans Affairs’ project to give mHealth-enabled tablets to high-need veterans was successful in improving healthcare access, according to an analysis by researchers at the VA Center for Innovation to Implementation. That the connected health program succeeded despite problems with provider interest, a lack of support at some understaffed VA centers and Wi-Fi connectivity indicates the program could do even better…”
“The analysis covers a 2016-17 program in which close to 6,750 veterans in remote locations across the country received a tablet loaded with mHealth technology, including virtual visit and remote monitoring capabilities, and some received peripheral mHealth devices like a blood pressure monitor or weight scale. Three-quarters of those veterans were dealing with a mental health issue, and most had multiple chronic conditions…”
“In interviewing VA facility telehealth coordinators, the researchers found that the program often aligned with the VA facility’s strategic plan and was well received by the veterans. However, more than a third of those coordinators said their facility wasn’t adequately equipped to run the program, facing issues that included staffing shortages, a lack of training and poor provider interest. Some also reported a lack of interest from leadership and a competition for time and resources with other telehealth programs…”
“The research group concluded that the tablet program was successful in improving access to care for underserved veterans, and the VA centers who saw the most success either prepared for problems or knew how to address them when they cropped up…” Read the full article here.
Source: VA’s Tablet Program Puts a Positive Spin on Telehealth Expansion – By Eric Wicklund, September 25, 2019. mHealth Intelligence.
