New diagnostic and information technology for mobile medical care

Clin Geriatr Med. 2009 Feb;25(1):93-107, vii. doi: 10.1016/j.cger.2008.10.007.

Abstract

Medicare reimbursement for home visits average around $100 without ancillaries, so making 10 home visits to prevent even a single $1,000 ambulance ride is cost-neutral for Medicare. Home medical care is only an added cost if it fails to offset acute care use. The government's demographic and financial pressure suggests a need to press ahead with the enhanced mobile care model, so the explosion in point-of-care devices should continue. The main challenge is to decide which ones provide dispositive value to patients.

MeSH terms

  • Diagnostic Tests, Routine
  • Emergency Service, Hospital / statistics & numerical data
  • Home Care Services*
  • House Calls
  • Humans
  • Medical Records Systems, Computerized
  • Mobile Health Units*
  • Point-of-Care Systems*
  • Telemedicine