A pilot project at the Cleveland Clinic that monitored 250 patients with chronic diseases showed patients were able to increase the number of days between visits. The study used a medical device that shared daily patient data online with doctors and nurses and found that patients better managed their care using the system. "The project found a significant change in the average number of days between doctor's office visits for diabetic and hypertensive patients, who were able to increase the number of days between appointments by 71 percent and 26 percent, respectively … Doctors and nurses, using electronic medical records and the uploaded data, were able to monitor, for example, a heart-failure patient's daily weight, blood pressure and activity level." Clinic officials said the devices also helped patients manage medications and flag for doctor intervention should they need it. They hope the next step is an even larger study.
What insurer will step up and offer this technology to their chronic members to see if it reduces costs?
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