US Tele-Medicine Launches Remote Patient Monitoring and Telehealth Programs Offering Solutions to the "Triple Aim" of IHI Health Care Reform

Monarch Beach, California, September 8, 2014 (Newswire.com) - US Tele-Medicine, a world leader in telemedicine and Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) solutions for the health care industry since 2005, is now bringing its proprietary, proven telehealth solutions to the U.S. market, that not only meet but exceed the “triple aim” developed by the Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI) -- improving the patient’s experience of care, improving the overall health of the population, and reducing the per capita cost of health care in the United States and worldwide. It is IHI’s firm belief that new technologies or designs to optimize a health system’s performance must be developed to simultaneously pursue these three dimensions.

“The US health care system is the most costly in the world, at nearly $3 trillion annually and accounting for 17% of the U.S. gross domestic product,” Jacques von Speyer, Chairman and CEO of US Tele-Medicine said. “The United States in particular is under enormous pressure to deliver greater value with less resources, both financial and in terms of doctor and specialist availability. As the population ages, life expectancy increases and chronic health problems escalate, this puts healthcare at a global crisis level. Comprehensive and integrated telemedicine solutions are a critical part of the solution.” von Speyer adds.  

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the World Health Organization (WHO), and American Telemedicine Association (ATA) agree. Over 75%, or three out of every four dollars of the nearly $3 trillion annually spent in healthcare today is on chronic disease and illness management. The annual average cost today for treatment and maintenance of one chronically ill person in the U.S. with common conditions such as asthma, diabetes, obesity and hypertension is $18,294. By 2015, there will be more people over the age of 50 than at any other time in our planet’s history, and over half (51%) of this population has at least one chronic issue.

Accessibility to meaningful care as described by the IHI is another major issue in health care reform. Over 78 million people live in rural areas of the United States where health care is not readily accessible, with just 14 MD’s on average for every 100,000 people. The average wait time to see a primary doctor is six days in urban areas, and 21 days in rural locales. In short, the state of the current healthcare industry is simply unsustainable by its providers due to the socio-economic realities of ever rising medical costs and the lack of medical professionals to provide meaningful care.

Juniper Research estimates that Remote Patient Monitoring will save the world’s healthcare systems up to $36 billion dollars by 2018, with North America accounting for over three quarters of these savings. The research firm predicts that the shift toward accountable care in the U.S. to help will lead naturally to wider adoption of remote monitoring for chronic illnesses. According to the IHI, many areas of health reform can also be furthered and strengthened by “triple aim” thinking, such as Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), sanctions now in place for avoidable events such as hospital re-admissions, and integrated innovative use of information technology, all of which are supported by US Tele-Medicine’s telehealth solutions.

“Current telemedicine sales in the U.S. are $1.5 billion, projected to grow exponentially to $149 billion by 2016,” Ellen Fontaine, US Tele-Medicine’s Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer elaborates. “72% of individuals say they want and would utilize remote healthcare via the Internet, smart phone or mobile device if given the option. Currently 3.5 million people across the world utilize Remote Patient Monitoring; it is a vetted, well proven form of telemedicine,” Fontaine states.

It’s not just chronically ill patients that are served by telemedicine either. Major pilot studies conducted by US Tele-Medicine in conjunction with five states’ Medicare enrollees show that 67% of all medical issues reported in its Tele-Triage product usage can be resolved with one remote doctor session.  The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are mandating the use of telemedicine, with 42 states now providing parity Medicaid reimbursement for telehealth services.

Fully integrated and vertical telemedicine solutions, such as those offered by US Tele-Medicine, reduces the $2.18 trillion annual cost of treating chronically ill patients by between 12-32% and increases the reach and immediate access to medical care by approximately 85%.

“The promulgation of telemedicine and the philosophy of “Mass E-Care” – providing meaningful, accountable medical care in a remote setting, irrespective of the distance and time between the provider and patient - is no longer a novel or futuristic option; it is a viable and necessary solution to the crippling crises and “triple aim” challenges facing healthcare today,” says von Speyer.

About US Tele-Medicine:  Since 2005, US Tele-Medicine, Inc. has been a world leader in telemedicine and Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) solutions that improve the reach and quality of health care while significantly lowering costs. The company’s Chairman and CEO, Jacques von Speyer, is considered one of the world’s foremost experts in telemedicine, and the corporation is the only U.S. telemedicine provider to be endorsed by the European Union, CORDIS, and others.