Impact of Home-Based Monitoring on the Care of Patients with Congestive Heart Failure

Congestive heart failure (CHF) affects nearly 5 million people in the United States with an annual cost of $30 billion. Home-based telemonitoring is a therapeutic tool that may reduce costs and improve patient satisfaction. This article assesses the effectiveness of home telemonitoring in patients with class III or IV CHF recently discharged from the hospital. A cohort of patients (n=83) were provided home telemonitoring for a 2-month period following hospital discharge. Home visit frequency, patient rehospitalization rate, emergency department use, quality of life, and health care costs were compared to a similar usual care cohort (n=83). Patients in the telemonitor group transmitted their weight, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation daily to a telemonitor nurse who evaluated each patient with a follow-up telephone call. Daily home care telemonitoring reduced the frequency of home nursing visits, provided cost savings, and was associated with improved self-perceived quality of life.