AHA report highlights innovative telehealth programs

Hospitals and health systems are using telehealth to expand access to care, improve outcomes for patients and reduce costs, according to a report released today at the AHA Leadership Summit in San Diego. The report shows how seven hospitals and health systems are using telehealth to expand access to opioid recovery programs, early intervention services for people with chronic conditions and specialty care for patients in underserved communities, among other benefits, often at lower cost. For example, the first 100 patients enrolled in a diabetes telehealth pilot at the University of Mississippi Medical Center saved Medicaid more than $300,000 during the first six months of the program. For more on the value of telehealth, visit http://www.aha.org/telehealth.