C Spire brings remote patient monitoring to hospital

  • August 11, 2020
  • Steve Rogerson

Mobile operator C Spire is teaming up with the Delta Regional Medical Center to debut a remote patient monitoring programme in Mississippi for various chronic medical conditions.
 
The aim is to manage health care costs for hospitals in rural areas and improve the quality of life for patients.
 
The company is providing the medical centre with a white-label platform from Vivify Health that enhances existing electronic health records (EHRs) and work efficiency while delivering results with over 97 per cent patient satisfaction, up to a 65 per cent reduction in readmission and double-digit returns on investment.
 
Remote patient monitoring helps hospitals and doctors monitor patients from smartphones, giving individual patients more freedom to live independent lives and reducing emergency room visits and readmissions. Video chat, audio calls and secure text can be used when an appointment or other intervention is needed.
 
Major health care operations across the USA are implementing remote patient monitoring for chronic and high-risk patients as part of a voluntary transition from a traditional fee-for-service model to a value-based accountable care organisation (ACO) approach where hospitals and clinics focus on preventative care to avoid hospitalisation.
 
“This life-saving technology is engaging and easy to use and teaches patients the information and habits they need to get on the road to a better life,” said Wade Smith, senior vice president of Business at Mississippi-based C Spire. “Our mission is to help hospitals and doctors transform chronic care through technology.”
 
Mississippi has some of the highest rates of obesity, diabetes and heart disease in the USA and has ranked near the bottom in most of these critical chronic health condition categories for decades, according to 2018 data from the state Department of Health, the federal Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and the Kaiser Family Foundation.
 
“We’re excited about being the first hospital to work with C Spire and Vivify to implement this hospital and patient-friendly platform in Mississippi,” said Scott Christensen, chief executive officer for Delta Regional Medical Center. “Through proactive, daily digital monitoring, we’re confident we can reduce fluctuating episodic care while primary care physicians stay advised and in control of patients’ wellbeing.”
 
Smith said the platform allowed hospitals and doctors to follow patient biometrics, medication adherence, diet and other health choices. With 12 per cent of the state’s residents without health insurance and 22.6 per cent living in rural poverty, remote patient monitoring can help “deliver more efficient services, stretch limited health care dollars and help keep patients away from waiting rooms and emergency care”, he said.
 
C Spire, formerly known as Cellular South, is a privately held telecommunications and technology company with wireless, fibre internet and business IT offerings such as internet, VoIP, cloud and managed services.
 
Delta Regional Medical Center is a full service hospital serving the Delta since 1953.