Encore, Encore
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ew technology is allowing sleep experts to better track the effectiveness of obstructive sleep apnea treatment. Franciscan Health Support is using a software program called Encore Anywhere to collect data from continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines to ensure they are being used correctly in patients’ homes. The information provided is pertinent data that can be accessed by the physician, homecare provider and/or insurance provider. “One of the most important aspects of patient care is compliance. If patients don’t use their CPAP equipment correctly at home, they may not experience an improvement in their conditions,” says Neil Widrick, RRT, RPSGT, manager of the Sleep Laboratory at St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center. The ability to track what is going on in the home from a remote location allows providers greater access to patient-driven data. Providers may download information from a secure website and make needed prescription changes with the push of a button, saving time and money for all involved. Encore Anywhere replaces the traditional method of delivering a card or the entire CPAP machine to
a homecare provider, downloading the information manually and printing it out and delivering the data to a physician. Instead, Encore Anywhere allows the homecare program (e.g., Franciscan Health Support), the ordering or consulting physician or provider, as well as other assigned entities such as insurance companies, to analyze and provide recommendations without transporting equipment and making a number of trips back and forth. “Real-time access to patient data enables providers to adjust therapy quickly, which improves the outcome of sleep apnea treatment,” Widrick says. For information on Encore Anywhere, contact Franciscan Health Support at 315-458-3200.
Eyes and Ears at Home
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ranciscan Companies’ registered respiratory therapists are playing the role of physicians’ eyes and ears in patients’ homes. The respiratory therapy/medical equipment company’s new program called TLC (Teach, Learn, Comprehend) increases the education patients receive when discharged from the hospital. It helps them avoid readmission to the hospital because they are taking charge of their health. “It’s a fresh new program that no other companies are offering,” says Joseph Nicoletti, RN, RRT, executive director of clinical services. “It takes our care to another level. We are not a drop-ship type of organization. While we are equipment-oriented, we have a tremendous focus on patient education.” The process is simple. With a referral from a physician, a respiratory therapist goes into the home, does an assessment, and then admits the patient into the TLC program—all at no charge. Patients receive ongoing support, education and guidance to manage their condition at home. They learn how to breathe and exercise correctly, the importance of taking their medications, how to read food labels and track their weight. The respiratory therapists also teach patients what’s considered normal and what warrants a call to their doctor. “We find that patients respond much better to this type of education when it’s done in the comfort of their homes,” Nicoletti says. “They go to the doctor and emergency room less frequently and their quality of life improves.”
www.sjhsyr.org
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The therapists relay concerns to the doctor early enough, so they can make changes in the patient’s care at home—including medication and activity level—to keep them out of the hospital. Rather than wait until a problem escalates, complications can be caught early.
“We find that patients respond much better to this type of education when it’s done in the comfort of their homes. They go to the doctor and emergency room less frequently and their quality of life improves.” — Joseph Nicoletti, RN, RRT, executive director of clinical services
The TLC program has proven especially helpful for people with CHF (congestive heart failure) and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) because both conditions have very high incidences of readmission. Franciscan is expanding the TLC program into the Oneida area. For more information or to refer a patient, call 315-458-3200. l
spring 2013
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St. Joseph’s hospital Health Center
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caring Connection