UCLA and 5 University of California Hospitals Receive $9.9M from HHS Study Use of Wireless and Remote Care Management to Reduce Hospital Readmissions–Participatory Sensing

I have often commented on how wireless technology has been somewhat left out in some of the meaningful use discussions and in my thoughts, wireless use could have been added as a “bonus” type situation, not required but more points for those who are using this technology. This study is to compare conventional follow up procedures with various types of wireless monitoring to see if return trips to the hospital can be avoided and if done properly, everyone should win here.

I talk a lot about implementation with devices as that is important as other wise you could very well create a “nag” and turn people off too. UCLA has also been a front runner with “participatory sensing” and I have included information in post in the past on how this works. This is important because if everybody hates it and it doesn’t have an ease of use for all, then the purpose is lost.

Participatory Sensing – Medical Device Study at UCLA With Reporting Data

Participatory Sensing with Cell Phones – New Study to Determine If This Works and How Disruptive It Could Be

The White House is well versed on participatory sensing too and realizes the importance of a good implementation and probably why this support has been given in this effort.

White House Speaks About Wireless Technology – Healthcare And Participatory Sensing

The success of course requires involving the patient too as if they don’t like it or want to try, then success may not follow. This study is to see what they like and how it can over come the readmission problems with having information available earlier before a situation turns into an emergency visit, and this study is all about participatory sensing. BD

A UCLA-led consortium of five University of California medical schools, plus Cedars–Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, has received $9.9 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality to research the use of wireless and telephone care management to reduce hospital readmissions for heart failure patients.

The three-year grant, "Variations in Care: Comparing Heart Failure Care Transition Intervention Effects," is funded under the AHRQ's Clinical and Health Outcomes Initiative in Comparative Effectiveness (CHOICE) program.

"Heart failure patients have high rates of hospital readmissions, and a critical window for preventing readmissions is as the patient transitions from the inpatient to outpatient setting," said Dr. Michael Ong, assistant professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the grant's principal investigator. "This project compares two approaches designed to help patients make a smooth transition from inpatient to outpatient care. We will compare whether each approach reduces readmissions among heart failure patients at six different medical centers."

The project will be a three-armed, randomized controlled trial examining the effect of two interventions: managing the transition from inpatient to outpatient care via telephone, and managing the transition from inpatient to outpatient care via wireless remote monitors and telephone. These will be compared to the standard care for heart failure patients.

The award is part of $473 million in AHRQ grants and contracts that support projects to help people make health care decisions based on the best evidence of effectiveness. The funding, announced Sept. 30, covers all of the AHRQ's allocation and $173 million administered for the HHS Secretary by the AHRQ.