New At-Home Care Program Aims to Expand RPM Options for Neurological Care

Nuvance Health has created an at-home care program to provide remote neurological support and treatment options for patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Nuvance Health includes a group of hospitals and outpatient healthcare facilities that operate throughout the Hudson Valley in New York and western Connecticut. The health system is comprised of seven community hospitals, physician-led medical practices, home health services, and a skilled nursing facility.

MCI is a neurological condition that affects 12 to 18 percent of people aged 60 or older in the US, according to the press release. The condition is an early stage of memory loss characterized by cognition problems such as language and thought processing. Although MCI is not a type of dementia, estimations from the Alzheimer's Association indicate that 10 to 15 percent of people with MCI develop dementia. The press release also noted the lack of medications for MCI.

To combat this prevalent disease and expand access to care, Nuvance created a new program to integrate RPM into care practices, providing more options for patients.

"We care deeply about our patients with MCI and their caregivers, and understand how the diagnosis can be extremely worrisome," said Paul Wright, MD, senior vice president and system chair of the Neuroscience Institute at Nuvance Health, in a press release. "We are passionate about bringing them the latest care options and support, and in particular, leveraging digital innovations that they can access from the comfort and convenience of home."

The new program provides patients access to brain-stimulating activities, like playing games and learning new skills, that measure how well they perform with timely assessments. Neurologists have access to this information through a digital dashboard, allowing them to take necessary actions, including providing ongoing therapy modifications based on real-world data.

"Nuvance Health's neurologists will use a digital platform to remotely monitor patients and keep them mentally active with consistent and intense brain activities," said Wright. "Patients will use an iPad to participate in medically-tested activities to stimulate their brains."

Further, the program will provide memory compensation training and the ability to upload and view personal photographs and videos to enhance memory.

The program will be available through Nuvance Health Neuroscience Institute neurology practices in New York and Connecticut. Most MCI patients receiving care at the health system are engaged in the pilot phase of the program, according to the press release.

Recently, various organizations have added at-home care options to enhance care for chronic conditions and improve patient access.

In September, Texas Health Resources launched Texas Health Care at Home, a program that aims to improve patient access and care for patients battling heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, pneumonia, cellulitis, soft tissue infections, and more.

With the overall goal of reducing readmissions to emergency departments while ensuring that patients receive emotional support, the program provided virtual assessments for patients daily, RPM, and in-person visits when needed.