Evaluating the Potential of Telemedicine to Reduce Hospitalizations of Nursing Home Residents
Award Amount:
$131,131
Approval Date:
April 13, 2010
Start Date:
May 1, 2010
End Date:
April 30, 2011
President and Fellows of Harvard College
17 Quincy Street, Massachusetts Hall
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
Principal Investigator:
David C. Grabowski, Ph.D., M.A.
Many costly hospitalizations of frail elders could be avoided if appropriate care were available in nursing homes. This study will test the promise of telemedicine to help nursing home staff consult with off-site physicians more easily. With the ability to see residents who are in another location, physicians could assess their need for hospital care or recommend treatments that the nursing home would be able to provide. Building on other Commonwealth Fund-supported work to decrease unnecessary hospital transfers of nursing home residents, the project will inform policymakers about a potentially cost-effective way to safely reduce avoidable hospitalizations for a vulnerable group.