Researchers expect digital health to play a significant role in the treatment of older adults after the pandemic.
Digital Health Enhances Senior Care
Background
As the baby boomer population ages, the U.S. faces a surge in healthcare utilization. Older adults commonly develop age-related illnesses, leading to an increased need for support. Fortunately, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services developed the Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) to provide necessary medical care, therapies, meals, transportation, social activities, and long-term care to older adults. Now, with more than 54,000 older adults served, PACE has implemented digital health tools to improve the coordination of care and maintain services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Changing Nature of Care
Prior to the pandemic, PACE programs across the U.S. started using remote patient monitoring and patient-provider communication technologies. To maintain the safety of older adults during the pandemic, digital health — instead of in-person services — became the center of PACE programs. Tools used include:
Wireless blood pressure cuffs
Wireless scales
Messaging
Video-chat
A recent study found that many PACE programs survived during the pandemic specifically because they adopted digital health technologies. Now, researchers expect digital health to play a significant role in the treatment of older adults.
About Diya Health
Diya Health is a budding telehealth platform that focuses on high efficiency, high throughput, and billable patient care services. Modeled after a practice's customary workflow, Diya Health helps clinicians optimize their time, improve patient care, and increase revenue. Diya Health’s billable services include:
