Improving Outcomes and Controlling Cost, Annotated Bibliography Example

Hjelm,N. M. (2007). Benefits and drawbacks of telemedicine. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare. Retrieved from http://telemedicina6.unifesp.br/set/curso/2006-10-23-pgsaude/Fundamental_BenefitsandDrawbacksofTelemedicine.pdf

Although telemedicine as a subject is vast, Hjelm documents the limitation of data with regard to its cost and clinical effectiveness in telemedicine applications. This also leads to the limitation of objective information concerning its drawbacks as well as benefits. Hjelm therefore relies on predictions, preliminary study results and opinions but all in all, potential benefits associated with telemedicine have been highlighted.

Hjelm notes the improvements made in accessing information which is specifically beneficial to the health professionals making proper use of telemedicine. Improvements have also been achieved in interprofessional communication and the care that could not be delivered in the past has now been made possible. The patients as well as the general population can now access medical information with ease. Care delivery has been enhanced health services have been accessible to a greater portion of the population. The access to primary as well as secondary care has now been significantly enhanced with the introduction of telemedicine.

Hjelm also quotes some drawbacks associated with telemedicine which may include a relationship breakdown between the patient and health care professional, organization as well as bureaucratic difficulties and health information quality.

Chen, H. F., Kalish, M. C., & Pagan, J. A., (2011). Telehealth and hospitalization for medicare healthcare patients. The American Journal of Managed Care, 17(6), e224-e230. Retrieved from http://www.ajmc.com/articles/AJMC_11jun_ChenKalish_e224to30as

The objective of the study in this article is evaluation of an integrated system of telehealth monitoring based on hospitalization probability. The authors emphasize on the importance of telecommunication together with information technology for accessing health assessment, appropriate diagnosis, supervision, consultation and intervention. The article notes the promising solution as well as cost effectiveness offered by telehealth with respect to disease management. The authors also give an analysis of existing forms of monitoring systems involving telehealth commonly sued for consultation as well as follow-up. Data as well as Study Design in this study involved the use of home health agencies private network that was community-based. The authors also document independent and variables applicable in this study which are dichotomous and the dummy variable representing the use of telehealth monitoring system by the patient respectively.

Louis, A. A., Turner, T., Gretton, M., Baksh, A., & Cleland, J. G. F., (2003). A systematic review of telemeonitoring for the management of heart failure. European Journal of heart Failure. Retrieved fromhttp://eurjhf.oxfordjournals.org/content/5/5/583.long

The article emphasizes the importance of telehelth in monitoring the measured physiological variables for patients based at their homes. The heart failure patients therefore access close supervisions and consequently hospital admission rates are drastically reduced and discharge from hospitals accelerated. The authors attempt review available literature on the use of telemedicine in heart failure management. This has been achieved through conducting some literature search on telemonitoring in addition to heart failure for the period 1966 to 2002 with the use of the Medline, the Embase, the Cochrane Library together with Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare.

The authors observe that, telemonitoting has the potential of playing the vital role health care delivery to heart failure patients with effectiveness. This is enhanced by multicentre trials on randomized controlled basis meant for evaluating the benefits associated the intervention’s cost effectiveness. The premise of the review is current evidence behind telemonitoring to achieve reduction in hospitalization of heart failure patients. The authors have identified potential deficiencies in information and hence giving suggestions for more research in this area of study.

Whitten, P., & Mikus, M., (2007). Home telecare for COPD/CHF patients: outcomes and perceptions. Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare. Retrieved from http://telehealthpilot.wikispaces.com/file/view/whitten.pdf

The article addresses evaluation of applying telehealth for chronic obstructive pulmonary as well as congestive heart failure patients based at their homes. Whitten & Mikus also give an account of situations that have necessitated the use of home telecare with specific reference to congestive heart failure, CHF, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, COPD and stroke.

The basic premise of the work of Whitten & Mikus is presentation of a study aimed at evaluation of home telehealth application to the COPD and CHF patients who are residents of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Whitten & Mikus posits whether the outcomes of patient health are similar when care is supplemented with telehealth relative to traditional care. Another important concern of the authors relates to the COPD/CHF patient attitudes to telehealth.