Health insurer Humana and Minnesota-based Healthsense, a provider of aging services technologies, have completed member enrollment in a remote monitoring pilot program. The pilot will measure the impact of in-home sensors and remote monitoring technology on improving health outcomes and reducing frailty and fall-related hospital admissions for Medicare members with chronic health conditions.
Humana Cares/Senior Bridge, Humana’s national chronic care management division, enrolled 100 Humana Medicare Advantage members in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky and West Virginia in the “Activities of Daily Living” year-long pilot designbed to help members remain independent and in their homes.
The Healthsense eNeighbor remote monitoring system reports changes in the member’s normal patterns of movement and activity to Humana care managers through in-home sensors that measure routine daily activities, such as sleeping, eating, physical activity and going to the bathroom.
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“We know that daily activities, like eating, sleeping and physical activity, can tell you a lot about a person’s health,” said Humana Cares/Senior Bridge Vice President of Telephonic Care Management Operations Gail Miller in a press release. “With the information relayed to us from the Healthsense in-home sensors, we’re able to quickly act on the alerts we receive. This is especially important in cases where you have a member with multiple chronic conditions living alone and a timely response can drastically change a health outcome.”
[See also: New tool tracks remote monitoring ROI.]
The sensors, which are placed discreetly around the home, work with Healthsense software to establish typical levels of daily activity, or a “routine,” for each member. Through passive monitoring, this routine becomes the benchmark for establishing when the member may need assistance without asking them to check-in, push a button or pull a cord.
“A rapidly growing body of research demonstrates the significant impact technology, in particular remote ADL monitoring, can have on the outcomes and cost of care,” said Healthsense President and CEO A.R. Weiler in the release. “We’re excited to work with Humana to employ the eNeighbor passive monitoring platform to help trigger interventions and help prevent adverse events from escalating to emergency room visits or hospital stays.”
Officials say Humana Cares/SeniorBridge, Humana’s national chronic care management division, supports more than 400,000 individuals who have chronic conditions, struggle with daily activities and are frequently hospitalized, as well as their family members and caregivers.
This article originally appeared on Healthcare IT News.
