Philips National Study on the Future of Technology and Telehealth in Home Care

Philips, National Association for Home Care, and Fazzi Associates have collaborated in what is expected to be the largest and most comprehensive technology study in the history of home healthcare.

It was the largest study on technology and telehealth in the history of home care. It was conducted by home care’s leading consulting and research firm - Fazzi Associates. It addressed the role of technology and telehealth in service delivery to over 4.2 million seniors each year. It exposed the incredible growth, impact and acceptance of telehealth and technology in home care. It substantiated the business and health opportunities that are quietly emerging in agencies in every city and town in the United States. And it emphatically showed that when it comes to the future of home care and hospice, technology and telehealth will play a leading role.

The results of the Philips National Study on the Future of Technology and Telehealth in Home Care were presented by Dr. Robert Fazzi and Timothy Ashe, RN, MBA at the NAHC Annual Meeting on October 10, 2007 in Denver. Some of the findings were surprising. Fazzi Associates is now in the process of analyzing the data for each state and will present this data at select State Association Annual Conferences. Check our Events page to see if these results will be presented at your next conference.

Information

Who is Sponsoring the National Study on the Future of Technology and Telehealth in Home Care?
The National Study on the Future of Technology and Telehealth in Home Care is being sponsored by Philips Consumer Healthcare Solutions. It is being co-sponsored by the National Association for Home Care and Fazzi Associates. Fazzi Associates - one of home care's most known and respected research, benchmark, and consulting firms - will be spearheading and managing the effort.

What is the National Study on the Future of Technology and Telehealth in Home Care?
The National Study on the Future of Technology and Telehealth in Home Care has been designed to generate industry-wide insights into the use of technology and telehealth by the full range of home care agencies. The goal is to provide home care leaders with the first real objective assessment of what is happening in terms of adoption, successes, and challenges of major types of technology now being used in the home care field. The study is designed to generate research based insights that enable easier, more educated decisions for home care leaders on the use of technologies – such as telehealth – in the delivery of services.

Why is there a Need for a National Study on the Future of Technology and Telehealth in Home Care?
The National Study on the Future of Technology and Telehealth in Home Care follows an earlier survey of Home Care Association Leaders conducted by Fazzi Associates in fall 2006. In the survey, association leaders were asked to rate the importance and need for five different studies. A study on the present and future uses of technology was by far the number one choice of both association and home care leaders.

What is the Focus of the Study?
The focus of the study will be guided by input from the home care field. Using a web based survey, Fazzi Associates will collect recommendations for the study from agency leaders throughout the country. This national input system will assure that the survey is focusing on the issues of greatest concern to agency leaders. Note: Focus results will be updated here as each stage of the study is completed.

Who are the Agencies Eligible to Participate in the National Study on the Future of Technology and Telehealth in Home Care?
Participating agencies in the National Study on the Future of Technology and Telehealth will be selected using random sampling. The selection process will be designed to insure adequate representation of agencies based on important demographic characteristics such as: rural vs. urban, profit vs. not-for-profit, freestanding vs. hospital-based, and agency size based on annual revenues.

What are the Timelines in the Study?
We envision the National Study on the Future of Technology and Telehealth in Home Care will take six months to complete. Our tentative timeline is as follows:

May: The National Steering Committee is named. This committee will consist of 20 key home health care leaders who will contribute input on the final design of the Philips’ study survey.
May-June: An online survey will be conducted to collect recommendations from home care agencies. Results from this “Field Input Survey” will guide the focus of the study and ensure that it is concentrating on the issues of greatest concern to agency leaders.
June: A review and analysis of the “Field Input Survey” responses will be completed. Major themes will be identified and presented to the National Steering Committee.
June: National Steering Committee members will meet to review the “Field Input Survey” results and will help design a completed draft of the final survey.
July-August: Recipients of the final survey will be contacted by telephone and asked to provide their responses. Fazzi will begin analyzing the results.
September-October: The analysis and segmentation of all findings will be completed. A presentation on the final Philips’ survey results will be presented at the NAHC Annual Conference. A report summarizing the findings of the study will also be made available at no cost to the entire industry.

For More Information

For more information, please contact the Project Director, Dr. Robert Fazzi at bfazzi@fazzi.com.

Steering Commitee

Region I
Joan Hull, Home Health VNA, Lawrence, MA

Region II
Laurie Neander, At Home Care, Oneonta, NY
Bridget Gallagher, The Jewish Home and Hospital Lifecare System, New York, NY

Region III
Rhonda Chetney, Sentara Home Care Services, Chesapeake, VA
Kristy Wright, VNA Hospice of Western Pennsylvania, Butler, PA

Region IV
John G. Beard, Alacare Home Health and Hospice, Birmingham, AL

Region V
Cathy Barr, HealthEast Home Care, St Paul, MN
Mary Ann Rayrat, Mercy Home Care/Cranbrook Hospice, Bloomfield Hills, MI

Region VI
Tasha Mears, LHC Group, Lafayette, LA
Debra Bilbo, Christus Home Health, Irving, TX

Region VII
Phyllis Stadtlander, Iowa Health Home Care, Des Moines, IA

Region VIII
Jen Porter, Good Samaritan Society, Sioux Falls, SD
Jo Burdick, MeritCare Home Care, Fargo, ND

Region IX
Marcia Reissig, Sutter Home Health, Emeryville, CA
Lyleen Pricor, Sharp Home Care, San Diego, CA

Region X
Sheryl Olson, Providence Health System, Portland, OR

National
Erin Denholm, Centura Home Care and Hospice, Denver, CO
Mary St. Pierre, National Association for Home Care & Hospice
Susan Sender, Gentiva Health Services, NY